AC Reggiana 1919

Not to be confused with Reggina 1914.

Reggiana
Full nameAssociazione Calcio Reggiana S.r.l.
Nickname(s)I Granata (The Maroons)
Regia (local dialect for Reggiana)
Teste Quadre (Square Heads) from an ancient Poems
Founded25 September 1919 (1919-09-25)
GroundMapei Stadium – Città del Tricolore
Capacity21,584
OwnerRomano Amadei (65% of club shares); Carmelo Salerno (30%); Giuseppe Fico (5%) [1]
ChairmanCarmelo Salerno
ManagerDavide Dionigi
LeagueSerie B
2024–25Serie B, 14th of 20
Websitereggianacalcio.it

Associazione Calcio Reggiana, commonly referred to as Reggiana, is a professional football club based in Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. The club was formed in 1919, reformed in 2005 (Serie C2) and 2018 (Serie D) after going bankrupt twice, and currently plays in the Serie B, the second tier of Italian football. Reggiana is known as i Granata (lit. 'the Maroons') in reference to the club's main colour: maroon.

The club was reformed twice after going bankrupt: in 2005 as Reggio Emilia Football Club, and in 2018 as Reggio Audace Football Club. On both occasions, the club regained the naming rights and the trophies of A.C. Reggiana via judicial auction. The club has participated in Serie A, the top tier of Italian football, seven times; their last appearance dates back to the 1996–97 season.

History

Formation

The first football game in Reggio Emilia was played under the roof of the old market in 1909, via an exhibition promoted by the local multi-sports association “Forti per Essere Liberi” (Strong to be Free). The first football clubs emerged subsequently in the coming years, with Reggio Football Club, formed in 1912, rising to prominence as the main local side due to its participation to Promozione, the then Italian second tier, divided into regional groups. In 1914, a group of Reggio F.C. members in disagreement with the presidency at the time decided to leave the club and form Juventus F.C. The two sides clashed in 1914–15 Promozione. The entry of Italy into World War 1 in May 1915 caused a vacuum in the local football scene, as many young players were drafted into the army and lost their lives in the war. On 25 September 1919, in the main town square (today's Piazza Prampolini), a group of former footballers, assembled by former Reggio F.C. footballer Severino Taddei, decided to form a new local club, using Juventus’ ground Campo Mirabello and Reggio F.C. colours (maroon and blue). The new club was formed as Associazione Calcio Reggiana.

A.C. Reggiana (1919–2005)

The club was originally founded in 1919 under the name A.C. Reggiana, and played in the Italian First Division for several seasons in the 1920s. More recently, it played in Serie A in 1993–94, 1994–95, and 1996–97. Their highest ranking was 13th place in the 1993–94 Serie A championship, where its main name was Brazilian goalkeeper Cláudio Taffarel, who would go on to win the 1994 FIFA World Cup after the season.

A.C. Reggiana 1919 (2005–2018)

In July 2005, the sports title of A.C. Reggiana S.p.A. was transferred to a new investor, Reggio Emilia F.C. S.p.A.,[2][3] before being renamed as A.C. Reggiana 1919 S.p.A. soon after the start of the 2005–06 season.

In the 2007–08 Serie C2 regular season, the team finished first in Group B, and won direct promotion to Lega Pro Prima Divisione (formerly known as Serie C1 until that year) for the 2008–2009 season. Reggiana also won 2008 Supercoppa di Serie C2, a competition for three group stage winners of Serie C2.

The club was acquired by Italian-American former baseball player Mike Piazza in 2016. After the 2017–18 season, the Piazza family decided not to register the team in the 2018–19 Serie C season, leading the club to the loss of its sporting title and subsequent exclusion from the Italian professional leagues.[4]

Reggio Audace F.C. (2018–2020)

On 31 July 2018, a new entity was formed in Reggio Emilia, called Reggio Audace F.C.. The name was given in honour of a precursor entity of the 1910s, where Reggiana founder Severino Taddei used to play before founding the granata club.[5] The new club, whose ownership was the expression of local entrepreneurs from Reggio Emilia, subsequently announced former Ravenna manager Mauro Antonioli as the new gaffer of the newborn club, admitted into the 2018–19 Serie D.[6] Two days later a three-year partnership was signed with Macron.[7][8] On 20 August 2018 striker Nicola Luche became the first ever signing of the club.[9]

The club gained promotion to the Serie B, after having been admitted by repechage to the Serie C due to vacancies left by bankrupt clubs in the third tier of Italian football and winning the 2019–20 Serie C playoff, returning to Serie B after an absence of 21 years, gaining subsequently two consecutive promotions.

A.C. Reggiana 1919 (2020–present)

On 28 July 2020, the club changed its name back to A.C. Reggiana 1919.[10][11]

Colors and badges

The team's home jersey color is granata (maroon), hence the nickname "Granata" or "Regia". However, the team's shorts are traditionally dark blue, and their badge has traditionally been an orange football surrounded by the text: "Associazione Calcio Reggiana " surrounded by a Granata border.

Stadium

Reggiana played all of its matches in Stadio Mirabello until 1994, when it moved to a modern arena, Stadio Città del Tricolore (a site previously known as Stadio Giglio). The stadium was subsequently bought by U.S. Sassuolo Calcio.

Fans

Like other Italian cities, the birth of the "ultras" phenomenon in the 1980s also affected A.C. Reggiana. With Reggiana battling for Serie B and Cantine Riunite Reggio Emilia competing in Lega Basket Serie A, the youth of the city formed and gathered in ultras every Sunday.

The leading group of Reggiana "Curva Sud" was "Ultras Ghetto", which was famous for its choreography. Since the late 1990s, the leading groups have been "Teste Quadre" and "Gruppo Vandelli", which situate themselves in the East Stand of the stadium. Reggiana fans have always had good numbers on away days with a peak of 10,000 fans in Milan in 1994.

Friendships and rivalries

Reggiana fans have good and friendly relationships with fans from:

The main rivals are:

Notable players

Former Reggiana players have included:

Italy
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Colombia
Croatia
Czech Republic
Georgia
Germany
England
France
Montenegro
Nigeria
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Spain
Sweden
Venezuela

Youth sector

Reggiana have always had a good tradition in developing youth players, being a rare club with a training ground which has 16 football pitches, located in the nearbies of the club house. The youth teams play their games in Stadio Mirabello, via Agosti training ground or in small grounds located in the local province.

The academy has produced various players, notably:

Italy
Gabon
Ghana
Morocco
Nigeria

Players

Current squad

As of 11 July 2025[12]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  ITA Edoardo Motta
4 DF  ITA Paolo Rozzio (captain)
6 MF  SVN Leo Štulac (on loan from Palermo)
7 FW  ITA Manuel Marras
11 FW  CIV Cedric Gondo
13 DF  ITA Andrea Meroni
16 MF  ARG Tobías Reinhart
17 DF  ITA Lorenzo Libutti
27 FW  ITA Matteo Maggio
29 MF  DEN Oliver Urso
31 DF  ITA Mario Sampirisi
No. Pos. Nation Player
80 FW  SUI Natan Girma
87 DF  FRA Yannis Nahounou
90 MF  ITA Manolo Portanova
99 GK  ITA Alex Sposito
— DF  ITA Simone Bonetti
— DF  ITA Andrea Bozzolan
— DF  ITA Giacomo Cavallini
— DF  ITA Diego Stramaccioni
— MF  ITA Damiano Basili
— MF  ITA Massimo Bertagnoli
— MF  ITA Francesco Vallarelli

Reggiana 1919 Primavera

As of 13 May 2025

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
12 GK  ITA Matteo Donelli
18 FW  ITA Edoardo Cavaliere
19 GK  ITA Simon Esosa Aibangbee
No. Pos. Nation Player
65 DF  ITA Federico Paterlini
70 GK  ITA Lorenzo Rubboli

Coaching Staff

Manager Davide Dionigi
Assistant manager Lorenzo Sibilano
Technical coach Giuseppe Liperoti
Match analyst Hiroshi Komatsuzaki
Fitness coach David Morelli
Fitness coach Giacomo Ceci
Assistant fitness coach Mattia Fantuzzi
Fitness trainer technical Alessandro Spaggiari
Goalkeeping coach Marco Bizzarri
Team manager Michele Malpeli
Head of medical staff Dott. Stefano Bondi
Club doctor Dott. Massimiliano Manzotti
Physiotherapist Remigio Del Sole
Filippo Torricelli
Gabriele Di Paola
Kitman Matteo Ferri

Updated to match played 5 April 2025
Source: AC Reggiana Website

Backdoor and directors staff

Honorary President and majority shareholder Romano Amadei
Chairman and CEO Carmelo Salerno
Vice-President Giuseppe Fico
Vice-President and Director of Operations Vittorio Cattani
Director of Football Marcello Pizzimenti
Assistant of Director of Football Francesco Panfili
Head of Recruitment Haris Louris
Academy Director Pietro Lodi
Head of Commercial Area Luca Tedeschi
General Secretary Nicola Simonelli
Head of Media and Marketing Alessandro Marconi
Press Officer Andrea Montanari
Digital Media Manager Marcello Tosi
Social Media Manager Chiara Bonomo

Updated to match played 1 July 2019
Source: Reggio Audace Website

Managers

The team's most famous coach was Carlo Ancelotti, who coached AC Milan from 2001 to 2009 and then managed Juventus, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton before returning to Real Madrid.

Chairmen

  • 1919–1923: Giuseppe Cassoli
  • 1923–1925: Vittorino Palazzi Trivelli
  • 1925–1928: Giovanni Bonini
  • 1928–1930: Renato Bertolini
  • 1930–1931: Mario Muzzarini and Franco Fontanili
  • 1931–1932: Enrico Bottazzi
  • 1932–1936: Marcello Bofondi
  • 1936–1937: Giuseppe Pietranera
  • 1937–1938: Eugenio Bolondi
  • 1938–1939: Giovanni Marzi
  • 1939–1941: Giovanni Robba
  • 1941–1942: Alberto Ferrari
  • 1942–1943: Antonio Alessio
  • 1943–1945: Regolo Ferretti
  • 1945–1946: Carlo Visconti and Mario Curti
  • 1946–1947: Carlo Visconti
  • 1947–1948: Mario Dallaglio
  • 1948–1951: Renato Simonini
  • 1951–1955: Enzo Dal Conte
  • 1955–1956: Gianni Landini
  • 1956–1965: Carlo Visconti, Gino Lari and Giorgio Degola
  • 1965–1979: Carlo Visconti
  • 1979–1982: Franco Vacondio
  • 1982–1988: Giovanni Vandelli
  • 1988–1993: Ermete Fiaccadori
  • 1993–1994: Gianfranco Morini
  • 1994–1995: Luciano Fantinel
  • 1995–1996: Loris Fantinel
  • 1996–2001: Luciano Ferrarini
  • 2001–2002: Federico Spallanzani
  • 2002–2004: Chiarino Cimurri
  • 2004–2005: Federico Spallanzani
  • 2005–2009: Vando Veroni
  • 2009–2010: Clarfiorello Fontanesi
  • 2010–2015: Alessandro Barilli
  • 2015–2016: Stefano Compagni
  • 2016–2018: Mike Piazza
  • 2018–2020: Luca Quintavalli
  • 2020–present: Carmelo Salerno

Honours

Divisional movements

Series Years Last Promotions Relegations
A 3 1996–97 – 4 (1926, 1929, 1995, 1997)
B 34 2023–24 4 (1924, 1927, 1993, 1996) 8 (1930, 1942, 1952, 1962, 1970, 1976, 1983, 1999, 2021)
C
+C2 		47
+3		 2022–23 9 (1940, 1946, 1958, 1964, 1971, 1981, 1989, 2020, 2023)
1 (2008 C2)		 3 (1953, 2005✟, 2018✟)

86 out of 90 years of professional football in Italy since 1929
D 4 2018–19 2 (1956, 2019) never

References

  1. ^ "Amadei, Salerno e Fico unici soci della Reggiana". Gazzetta di Reggio (in Italian). 3 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  2. ^ "COMUNICATO UFFICIALE N. 67/A (2005–06)" (PDF) (in Italian). FIGC. 16 August 2005. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Comunicazioni della F.I.G.C" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 November 2006.
  4. ^ "Reggiana calcio, è finita. La squadra non si iscrive al campionato di serie C" [Reggiana soccer, is ended. The team does not join the championship of series C]. il Resto del Carlino (in Italian). 16 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Reggiana, è nata la nuova società" (in Italian). 31 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  6. ^ "La Reggio Audace è iscritta alla serie D: l'allenatore è Mauro Antonioli". www.gazzettadiparma.it. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  7. ^ "Reggio Audace, Macron sponsor tecnico e Malpeli team manager - Reggionline - Telereggio Reggionline – Telereggio". www.reggionline.com (in Italian). Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Finalmente la fumata bianca: nasce la Reggio Audace Fc - Reggionline - Telereggio Reggionline – Telereggio". www.reggionline.com (in Italian). Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  9. ^ "UFFICIALE: Reggio Audace, preso l'attaccante Luche dalla Feralpisalò". Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  10. ^ Redazione (28 July 2020). "Reggio Audace addio: torna l'AC Reggiana 1919". Calcio e Finanza (in Italian). Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Da Reggio Audace a Reggiana: con la Serie B torna lo storico nome | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  12. ^ "PRIMA SQUADRA". Reggiana Calcio. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
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