Spal 1907
Encyclopedia
SPAL 1907 is an Italian football
club, based in Ferrara
, Emilia-Romagna
. The club was founded in 1907 as Società Polisportiva Ars et Labor (SPAL) and was refounded in 2005.
Spal currently plays in Lega Pro Prima Divisione, having last been in Serie A
in 1968.
The team's colors are blue and white.
, Dante Micheli, Fabio Capello
, Carlo Mazzone
and Osvaldo Bagnoli
. The club's history since 1968 has been one of constant movement between the lower three divisions of Italian professional football, last appearing in Serie B
in 1992–93.
In 1962 Spal reached the Italian Cup
final, but it was defeated by SSC Napoli
— at that time a Serie B
team. In the history of this competition it was the only time a Serie B team won the cup, though 3rd-division side Vado
won the very first competition in 1922.
Football in Italy
Football is the most popular sport in Italy. The Italian national football team has won the FIFA World Cup 4 times , trailing only Brazil . Italy's club sides have won 27 major European trophies, making them the most successful European nation in the subject of football...
club, based in Ferrara
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
, Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
. The club was founded in 1907 as Società Polisportiva Ars et Labor (SPAL) and was refounded in 2005.
Spal currently plays in Lega Pro Prima Divisione, having last been in Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
in 1968.
The team's colors are blue and white.
History
Although a provincial side, Spal has nonetheless played a significant role in Italian football history. The club spent 16 out of 17 years in Serie A between 1951 and 1968, finishing seventh in 1960 and eighth in 1963. Notable players to pass through the club's ranks include Oscar MasseiOscar Massei
Oscar Alberto Massei is a retired Argentine professional football player and coach. He also holds Italian citizenship.-External links:*...
, Dante Micheli, Fabio Capello
Fabio Capello
Fabio Capello is an Italian football manager and former player. He is the manager of the England national football team.Capello has the distinction of winning the domestic league title with every club he has coached throughout his career...
, Carlo Mazzone
Carlo Mazzone
Carlo "Carletto" Mazzone is an Italian football manager.A former centre back who played several seasons for his beloved team, AS Roma, other than Spal and Ascoli, where he played for nine season, Mazzone left the playing career in season 1968-1969, to become the manager of Ascoli itself, in Serie...
and Osvaldo Bagnoli
Osvaldo Bagnoli
Osvaldo Bagnoli is a former Italian football coach.During his long and illustrious career, he is best remembered for being the coach which led the underdogs Verona to its first Serie A title in the 1984–85 season.He has also coached a number of other Serie A teams, including Genoa and Inter.In...
. The club's history since 1968 has been one of constant movement between the lower three divisions of Italian professional football, last appearing in Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
in 1992–93.
In 1962 Spal reached the Italian Cup
Coppa Italia
The Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
final, but it was defeated by SSC Napoli
S.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....
— at that time a Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
team. In the history of this competition it was the only time a Serie B team won the cup, though 3rd-division side Vado
F.C. Vado
F.C. Vado is an Italian association football club located in Vado Ligure, Liguria. It currently plays in Eccellenza Liguria.-History:It was founded in 1913....
won the very first competition in 1922.