Serie A
The Serie A (Italian pronunciation: [ˈsɛːrje ˈa]),[1] officially known as Serie A Enilive[2] in Italy and Serie A Made in Italy abroad for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Italy. It is the highest level of the Italian football league system. Serie A has operated as a round-robin tournament in every season it has taken place since its season 1929–30 formation. Serie A and Serie B were formed to replace the previous regional and inter-regional senior men's Italian football organisation, with a single national hierarchical meritocracy. Continuing a tradition started in 1924 in Serie A's most recent predecessor tournament, each Serie A winning club adorns the decorative scudetto on their jersey the season after victory. Since 1961 the Coppa Campioni d'Italia trophy has also been awarded to the relevant club for the season after winning Serie A. Championship titles won before 1929 are officially recognised by FIGC with the same weighting as Serie A titles. Similarly, the 1945–46 season, when Serie A was temporarily replaced with two geographical groups due to the ravages of World War II, is weighted as the national league title for that season.[3] Serie A was organised by the Direttorio Divisioni Superiori until 1943, the Lega Calcio until 2010, and the Lega Serie A ever since. Serie A is regarded as one of the best football leagues in the world and it is often depicted as the most tactical and defensively sound national league.[4] In 2023–24, Serie A was ranked as the best league by UEFA coefficient.[5] The league hosts three of the world's most famous clubs in Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan, all founding members of the G-14, a group which represented the largest and most prestigious European football clubs from 2000 to 2008,[6] with the first two also being founding members of its successive organisation, the European Club Association (ECA). More players have won the Ballon d'Or award while playing at a Serie A club than any league in the world other than Spain's La Liga.[7] Juventus, Italy's most successful club of the 20th century[8] and the most winning Italian team,[9] is tied for sixth in Europe and twelfth in the world with the most official international titles with eleven.[10] Prior the first Europa Conference League final in 2022, it was also the only one in the world to have won all the historical five official confederation competitions, an achievement reached after its triumph in the 1985 Intercontinental Cup and revalidated after winning a sixth tournament, the UEFA Intertoto Cup, fourteen years later.[11] Milan is joint third club overall for official international titles won with eighteen.[12] Inter, following their achievements in the 2009–10 season, became the first Italian team to have achieved a seasonal treble. It is also the only team to have competed uninterruptedly for the most time in the top flight of Italian football, having seen its debut in 1909.[13][14] All these clubs, along with Lazio, Fiorentina, Roma and Napoli, are known as the "seven sisters" (sette sorelle) of Italian football.[15][16][17][18][19][note 1] Serie A is one of the most storied football leagues in the world. Of the 100 greatest footballers in history chosen by FourFourTwo in 2017, 42 players have played in Serie A, more than any other league in the world.[20] Juventus is the team that has produced the most World Cup champions (27), with Inter (20), Roma (16) and Milan (10), being respectively third, fourth and ninth in that ranking.[21] HistoryPredecessors to Serie A, 1898–1928In the Italian football league system, the Federazione Italiana del Football (FIF), began organising football in Italy in 1898. Its first competition, the 1898 Italian Football Championship, was held at the Velodrome Humbert I in Turin on 8 May 1898. First in the List of Italian football champions is thus Genoa CFC, who won against three Turin based teams. Other Italian teams existed but hadn't joined at this stage. Genoa won the Italian Football Championship on five out of six occasions, interrupted by AC Milan in 1901. From 1904, the tournament was named Prima Categoria, structured into regional groups. The winners of each group participated in a playoff to declare the champions. The FIF joined FIFA and was renamed in 1909 to Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC). The FIGC usurped the rival Federazione Ginnastica Nazionale Italiana (FGNI) as a football administration. The FGNI organised football tournaments in Italy between 1895 and 1913. Argument in 1921 on the number of teams to be allowed in the set up, led to a split forming the Confederazione Calcistica Italiana (CCI). In 1921-22 the CCI conducted a tournament named Prima Divisione with Northern Italy's wealthiest clubs, in opposition to the competition organised separately by the FIGC. The FIGC then accepted the Prima Divisione as the new format from 1922-23 with its reduced number of teams. Prima Divisione played from 1921 to 1926. Prima Divisione was divided into Lega Nord (Northern League) and Lega Sud (Southern League). Lega Nord was divided into two non-regional, 12 team groups of which the winners played off in the Northern League Final. Lega Sud was sub-divided regionally with winners playing off in a finals series. The winners of the Northern and Southern Leagues then played off in the Finalissima (literally The Biggest Final), to be national champions. In 1926 the Fascist regime placed the FIGC under control of politician Leandro Arpinati. Prima Divisione was replaced with Divisione Nazionale. Divisione Nazionale initially comprised the previous Liga Nord plus 2 of the 3 Roman teams that would merge in 1927 into AS Roma, and SSC Napoli (newly formed from the merger of 2 previously separate Neapolitan clubs). Divisione Nazionale was based as per the previous Lega Nord on two non-regional groups, now composed of only ten clubs each. The top 3 teams in each of the 2 groups then played in a round robin finals competition to decide the national champion. Serie A formationItalian football was re-organised in 1929 to form a national 2 division hierarchic meritocracy, with end of season promotion and relegation between the 2 divisions. The two new divisions were named Serie A and Serie B. The inaugural Serie A was won by Internazionale during the period they were called Ambrosiana. After World War II the North - South divisions of Divisione Nazionale were restored for the single 1945-46 season. Serie A was re-stored in 1946 and has continued to today. Scudetto and Coppa Campioni d'ItaliaThe Italian league championship title is often referred to as the scudetto ("small shield"). That is since from 1923–24 season, the winner of the Italian football league set up adorned a small coat of arms with the Italian tricolour on their strip in the following season. An actual trophy is awarded to the winning club since 1960–61 season. The trophy is called the Coppa Campioni d'Italia. Until 2004 it was presented to the winning club at the head office of the Lega Nazionale Professionisti. Since then the trophy has been presented on-pitch at the end of the last round of games.[citation needed] 21st centuryIn April 2009, Serie A announced a split from Serie B. Nineteen of the twenty clubs voted in favour of the move in an argument over television rights; the relegation-threatened Lecce had voted against the decision. Maurizio Beretta, the former head of Italy's employers' association, became president of the new league.[22][23][24][25] In April 2016, it was announced that Serie A was selected by the International Football Association Board to test video replays, which were initially private for the 2016–17 season, allowing them to become a live pilot phase, with replay assistance implemented in the 2017–18 season.[26] On the decision, FIGC President Carlo Tavecchio said: "We were among the first supporters of using technology on the pitch and we believe we have everything required to offer our contribution to this important experiment."[27] Serie A will continue the 20 club format after sixteen clubs voted against reducing the division to 18 teams in February 2024.[28] FormatFor most of Serie A's history, there were 16 or 18 clubs competing at the top level. Since 2004–05, however, there have been 20 clubs in total. One season (1947–48) was played with 21 teams for political reasons, following post-war tensions with Yugoslavia. Below is a complete record of how many teams played in each season throughout the league's history:
 During the season, which runs from August to May, each club plays each of the other teams twice; once at home and once away, totalling 38 games for each team by the end of the season. Thus, in Italian football a true round-robin format is used. In the first half of the season, called the andata, each team plays once against each league opponent, for a total of 19 games. In the second half of the season, called the ritorno, the teams play another 19 games, once more against each opponent, in which home and away matches are reversed. The two halves of the season had exactly the same order of fixtures until the 2021–22 season, when an asymmetrical calendar was introduced, following the format of the English, Spanish and French leagues.[29] Since the 1994–95 season, teams are awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss. Prior to this, teams were awarded two points for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. The three lowest-placed teams at the end of the season are relegated to Serie B, and three Serie B teams are promoted to replace them for the next season. European qualificationIn 2023–24, Serie A was ranked as the best league by UEFA coefficient.[30] This was due to a combination of all seven Serie A teams progressing into the knockout stages in European competition, picking up extra coefficient points. Additionally, Atalanta won the Europa League Final and Fiorentina were losing finalists in the UEFA Europa Conference League. This continued a strong recent record where five of the six European club finals have featured at least one Serie A side over the past two seasons. As a result of this ranking the top 5 clubs in Serie A qualify for the champions league in 2024. Tiebreaking If after all 38 games, two teams are tied on points for either first place or for 17th (the last safety spot), the outcome is decided by a single-legged play-off match. This match consists of 90 minutes of regulation time followed by penalties if necessary (no extra time). The game is to be held at a neutral venue, with the designated "home" team determined by the tiebreakers listed below.[31][32][33] In cases where there are at least three teams tied for one of these positions, a mini table is created using the same tiebreakers to determine which two teams will play in the decider. For ties concerning all other league positions, the following tiebreakers are applied:
Between 2006–07 and 2021–22, the tiebreakers currently used for all places to decide the scudetto winner if necessary, though this was never needed. Before 2005–06, a play-off would immediately be used if teams were tied for first place, a European qualification spot, or a relegation spot. In some past years, the playoff was a single game at a neutral site while in others it was a two-legged tie decided by aggregate score. The only time a playoff was used to decide the champion occurred in the 1963–64 season when Bologna and Inter both finished on 54 points. Bologna won the playoff 2–0 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome to win the scudetto.[34] Playoff games have been used on multiple occasions to decide European competition qualifications (most recently in 1999–2000) and relegation (most recently in 2022–23). ClubsBefore 1929, many clubs competed in the top level of Italian football as the earlier rounds were competed up to 1922 on a regional basis then interregional up to 1929. Below is a list of Serie A clubs who have competed in the competition since it has been a league format (68 in total). 2024–25 seasonClubsThe following 20 clubs are competing in the Serie A during the 2024–25 season.
MapsCurrent teams shown in green.  Locations of all 68 current and former Serie A teams Seasons in Serie AThere are 68 teams that have taken part in 93 Serie A championships in a single round that was played from the 1929–30 season until the 2024–25 season. The teams in bold compete in Serie A currently. The year in parentheses represents the most recent year of participation at this level. Inter Milan is the only team that has played Serie A football in every season.
LogosSerie A had logos that featured its sponsor Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM). The logo that was introduced in 2010 had a minor change in 2016 due to the change of the logo of TIM itself.[35][36] In August 2018, a new logo was announced, and another one in August 2019.[37] On 5 February 2024, Serie A signed a new sponsor deal with Eni, otherwise known as Enilive, to take the main sponsor role of the Serie A.[38][39][40] Television rightsIn the past, individual clubs competing in the league had the rights to sell their broadcast rights to specific channels throughout Italy, unlike in most other European countries. Currently, the two broadcasters in Italy are the satellite broadcaster Sky Italia and streaming platform DAZN for its own pay television networks; RAI is allowed to broadcast only highlights (exclusively from 13:30 to 22:30 CET). This is a list of television rights in Italy (since 2021–22):
Since the 2010–11 season, Serie A clubs have negotiated television rights collectively rather than on an individual club basis, having previously abandoned collective negotiation at the end of the 1998–99 season.[41] International broadcastersIn the 1990s, Serie A was at its most popular in the United Kingdom when it was shown on Football Italia on Channel 4, although it has actually appeared on more UK channels than any other league, rarely staying in one place for long since 2002. Serie A has appeared in the UK on BSB's The Sports Channel (1990–91), Sky Sports (1991–1992), Channel 4 (1992–2002), Eurosport (2002–2004), Setanta Sports and Bravo (2004–2007), Channel 5 (2007–2008), ESPN (2009–2013), Eleven Sports Network (2018), Premier, FreeSports (2019–2021) and currently BT Sport (2013–2018; 2021–present).[42] In the United States, Serie A is currently shown on CBS Sports and its streaming network Paramount+. Prior to 2021–22 it was shown on the ESPN family of networks.[43] 2024–29For the 2024–29 cycle, the Serie A sold its international rights to the Infront agency (except in United States and MENA), which is in charge of reaching an agreement with the interested companies. [44] Africa
Americas
Asia and Oceania
Europe
Middle East and North Africa
ChampionsAlthough Serie A was not formed until 1929–30, the league recognizes clubs who were named Italian champions before the league's foundation. The most successful club in terms of national champions is Juventus with 36 championships. All except the first two of Juve's national championships were won since Serie A formed in 1929. Next most national championships is Inter Milan with 20 (2 of which were pre-Serie A) and AC Milan with 19 championships (including 3 from pre-Serie A). No champions was awarded in 1926–27 and 2004–05 seasons, after Torino and Juventus were stripped from their titles due to their involvement in football scandals. Bold indicates clubs which play in the 2024–25 Serie A.
By city
By region
RecordsBoldface indicates a player still active in Serie A. Italics indicates a player active outside Serie A. Most appearances_(cropped).jpg)
Most goals.jpg)
PlayersNon-EU playersUnlike La Liga, for example, which has long imposed a quota on the number of players able to play for each club who hold passports from countries that are not in the European Union, Serie A has undergone many rule changes concerning the number of non-EU players clubs could sign. During the 1980s and 1990s, most Serie A clubs signed a large number of players from foreign nations (both EU and non-EU members). Notable foreign players to play in Serie A during this era included Irish international Liam Brady, England internationals Paul Gascoigne and David Platt, France's Michel Platini and Laurent Blanc, Lothar Matthäus and Jürgen Klinsmann from Germany, Dutchmen Ruud Gullit and Dennis Bergkamp, and Argentina's Diego Maradona. In the middle of the 2000–01 season, the old quota system, which limited each team to having no more than five non-EU players and using no more than three in each match, was abolished.[51][52] Concurrent with the abolishment of the quota, the FIGC had investigated footballers that used fake passports. Alberto and Warley, Alejandro Da Silva and Jorginho Paulista of Udinese;[53] Fábio Júnior and Gustavo Bartelt of Roma;[54] Dida of Milan; Álvaro Recoba of Inter; Thomas Job, Francis Zé, Jean Ondoa of Sampdoria; and Jeda and Dede of Vicenza were all banned in July 2001 for lengths ranging from six months to one year.[55] However, most of the bans were subsequently reduced. At the start of the 2003–04 season, a quota was imposed on each of the clubs limiting the number of non-EU, non-EFTA and non-Swiss players who may be signed from abroad each season,[56] following provisional measures[51] introduced in the 2002–03 season, which allowed Serie A and B clubs to sign only one non-EU player in the 2002 summer transfer window. The rule underwent minor changes in August 2004,[57] June 2005,[58] June 2006,[59][60] and June 2007.[61] The number of non-EU players was reduced from 265 in 2002–03 season to 166 in 2006–07 season.[62] This reduction also included players who received EU status after their respective countries joined the EU (see 2004 and 2007 enlargement), which made players such as Adrian Mutu, Valeri Bojinov, Marek Jankulovski and Marius Stankevičius EU players. The quota system changed again at the beginning of the 2008–09 season: three quotas were awarded to clubs that do not have non-EU players in their squad (previously only newly promoted clubs could have three quotas); clubs that had one non-EU player had two quotas. Those clubs that had two non-EU players were awarded one quota and one conditional quota, which was awarded after: 1) Transferred 1 non-EU player abroad, or 2) Release 1 non-EU player as free agent, or 3) A non-EU player received EU nationality. Clubs with three or more non-EU players had two conditional quotas, but releasing two non-EU players as free agent only gave one quota instead of two.[63] Serie B and Lega Pro clubs could not sign non-EU players from abroad, except those that followed a club promoted from Serie D. On 2 July 2010, the above conditional quota was reduced back to one, though if a team did not have any non-EU players, that team could still sign up to three non-EU players.[64][65][66] In 2011 the signing quota reverted to two.[67] Large clubs with many foreigners usually borrow quotas from other clubs that have few foreigners or no foreigners in order to sign more non-EU players. For example, Adrian Mutu joined Juventus via Livorno in 2005, as at the time Romania was not a member of the EU. Other examples include Júlio César, Victor Obinna and Maxwell, who joined Inter from Chievo (first two) and Empoli, respectively. Homegrown playersSerie A also imposed Homegrown players rule, a modification of Homegrown Player Rule (UEFA). Unlike UEFA, Serie A at first did not cap the number of players in first team squad at 25, meaning the club could employ more foreigners by increasing the size of the squad.[68] However, a cap of 25 (under-21 players were excluded) was introduced to 2015–16 season (in 2015–16 season, squad simply require 8 homegrown players but not require 4 of them from their own youth team).[69] In the 2016–17 season, the FIGC sanctioned Sassuolo for fielding ineligible player, Antonino Ragusa.[70] Although the club did not exceed the capacity of 21 players that were not from their own youth team (only Domenico Berardi was eligible as youth product of their own) as well as under 21 of age (born 1995 or after, of which four players were eligible) in their 24-men call-up,[71] It was reported that on Lega Serie A side the squad list was not updated.[72] In 2015–16 season, the following quota was announced.
FIFA World Players of the Year
Serie A Player of The MonthMain page: Serie A Player of the Month The Serie A Player of the Month recognises the best player each month in Serie A, which is usually done via online voting out of the five nominees.
See also
Notes
References
External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Serie A (association football, Italy).
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