Como 1907
Full name | Como 1907 S.r.l. | ||
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Nickname(s) | I Lariani (Those from Lake Como) Gli Azzurri (The Blues) I Biancoblù (The Blue and Whites) I Voltiani (The Voltaics) | ||
Founded | 1907 2005 (as Calcio Como) 2017 (as Como 1907) | (as Como Foot-Ball Club)||
Ground | Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia | ||
Capacity | 13,602 | ||
Owner | SENT Entertainment (Djarum Group) | ||
CEO | Francesco Terrazzani | ||
Head coach | Cesc Fàbregas | ||
League | Serie A | ||
2023–24 | Serie B, 2nd of 20 (promoted) | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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Como 1907 (Italian pronunciation: [ˈkɔːmo]) is an Italian professional football club based in Como, Lombardy. The club competes in the Serie A, the first tier of Italian football.[1][2] Founded in 1907 as Como Foot-Ball Club, they adopted royal blue as their colours and has played their home matches in 13,602-capacity stadium Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.[3] The club currently has the richest club owners in Italian football after they were bought by the Hartono brothers (Michael Bambang Hartono and Robert Budi Hartono) through Djarum in 2019, with minority shareholders including former footballers Thierry Henry and Cesc Fàbregas.[4][5][6]
Como were first promoted to Serie A in 1949, and achieved their best result with a five-year stint in Serie A in the 1980s before relegations to Serie B and Serie C. Como were relegated from Serie A in 2003; this was followed by three consecutive relegations culminating in demotion to Serie C2 in 2005 following a playoff (2–1 on aggregate) with Novara Calcio. Financially overstretched, they were declared bankrupt and excluded from participation in Italian professional football. They were immediately admitted to Serie D, the top level of non-professional football in Italy, where they spent three seasons before earning promotion back to Serie C2 in 2007.[7] After a further bankruptcy in 2016, a new company re-founded the club in 2017 and was admitted to Serie D.[8]
Since being bought by the Hartono brothers, who were ranked the 64th and 66th richest men by Forbes in 2022 and the richest men in Italy in 2024,[9][10] the club returned to Serie B and in 2024, for the first time in 21 years, was promoted to Serie A.[11][12] Under the ownership of the Hartono brothers, Como achieved a value of €1 billion.[13]
History
Foundation and early years
The club was founded on 25 May 1907 as Como Foot-Ball Club,[14] by a committee of members gathered at the Taroni bar, located in the central via Cinque Giornate, the first headquarters of the Como company.[15] In the first years after its foundation, Como played friendly matches and local tournaments, competing against teams from Milan and Switzerland.[15]
In 1927, Como merged with Esperia and was renamed Associazione Calcio Comense, which won the Coppa Volta in the same year, eliminating Inter 3–0 in the semi-final (which saw the debut of 17- year-old Giuseppe Meazza in this tournament) and beating Genoa, led by De Prà, De Vecchi and Levratto, 1–0 in the final.[15] Four years later, the club achieved a brilliant promotion from Prima Divisione to Serie B without suffering any losses.[15]
World War II dramatically affected the entire Italian football movement, but Como managed to bounce back. In 1945 when there was no national championship, the club won the Torneo Benefico Lombardo (Tournament for Lombardy teams) which included Milan, Ambrosiana-Inter, Novara and other Lombard teams.[15] After the war, Como competed in Serie B and spent three years battling for the top spot before finally being promoted to Serie A for the first time in 1949 with Mario Varglien as their coach.[15] Como's first experience in the top division lasted four years, where in their first year, they finished in sixth position with the same points as Torino in fifth.[15]
Mixed times
In the 1973–74 season, following the arrival of Giuseppe Marchioro as coach, Como again fought for promotion with a solid defense of Antonio Rigamonti and Vito Callioni, but the team could only finish in a fourth place.[15] The following season, still managed by Marchioro and with the contribution of rising star Marco Tardelli, a second promotion to Serie A arrived, but the team lasted only a season before being relegated back to Serie B.[15]
After being relegated to Serie C1 in 1978, Como were once again coached by Marchioro supported by sporting director Lamberti, immediately gaining two consecutive promotions by winning Serie C1 in 1978–79 season season and Serie B in 1979–80 season with Adriano Lombardi as their best player.[15] They then remained in Serie A for two seasons.[15]
Como managed another promotion to the top flight in 1984, with a five-year stint in Serie A proving the club's most successful period. The strikeforce of Dan Corneliusson and Stefano Borgonovo oversaw a 9th-place finish in 1986, which was repeated the following year with far fewer goals scored.[15] The club's defence, led by hard man Pasquale Bruno, proved more than up to the task.[15] Two consecutive relegations to C1 in the 1990s led to a poor decade for Como, who found themselves floating for most of the 1990s in Serie C1.[15] The only exception to those poor years was when they managed to gain promotion to Serie B in the 1993–94 season.[15] Como also won the 1996–97 Coppa Italia Serie C, beating Nocerina in the two-legged final with an aggregate score of 4–2.[15]
Bankruptcy and brief promotion to Serie B
The 21st century saw Como experience a brief revival. Promotion to Serie B in 2001 was marred by an appallingly violent incident in a game against Modena, resulting in captain Massimiliano Ferrigno being handed a three-year ban. They nonetheless managed promotion to Serie A in the 2002–03 season; however, the return to Serie A proved a major disappointment with the side in the bottom two all season, and a ban on games at the Sinigaglia after crowd violence. Successive relegations have caused financial difficulties; in December 2004 the club was declared bankrupted.[16] No investor was successful to take over the club as the bid from Enrico Preziosi was denied,[17] and thus the company Calcio Como S.p.A. was liquidated. Thanks to FIGC regulation, a new entity, which was named Calcio Como S.r.l.,[18] was allowed to admit into 2005–06 Serie D. The liquidator also found former chairman Preziosi had transferred some assets such as the contracts of the players to his new club Genoa, causing the financial failure of Como. They returned to the rebranded Serie C2, Lega Pro Seconda Divisione in 2008, after having won the Girone B of Serie D.[7] Como finally returned to Serie C1 (Lega Pro Prima Divisione) after promotion play-offs after defeating Rodengo Saiano with 1–1 aggregate and Alessandria with 4–1 aggregate. In 2015, Como finished fourth in the third-tier, now called Lega Pro. They qualified for the promotion play-offs and earned promotion to Serie B after beating Bassano Virtus in the two-legged final 2–0 on aggregate. They were relegated back down to Lega Pro the following season.
New ownership and return to Serie A
New economic problems arose in the 2016–17 season, forcing the club to be declared out of business and put on auction. At the fourth auction, the assets of the club were acquired by Akosua Puni Essien, wife of the Ghanaian footballer Michael Essien and first foreign businesswoman in Italian football (via her company F.C. Como S.r.l.).[19] The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) rejected the application of F.C. Como as Como's successor in 2017–18 Serie C,[20] as the club did not fulfill all the criteria in the Article 52 of N.O.I.F.[21] At the start of season, another company, which was named Como 1907 S.r.l.,[8] was admitted to 2017–18 Serie D instead, excising another sub-clause of the Article 52.[22][23]
After winning the round B of the 2018–19 Serie D, Como returned to professional football in 2019. Since 2019, the club has been owned by Indonesian company Djarum Group led by Michael Hartono and Robert Budi Hartono, among the richest men in the world and in Italy according to Forbes, and sponsored by Djarum subsidiary Mola since 2021; as of 2022, the club's owners earned €4 million per hour.[24] As of 2024[update], former Chelsea and Millwall player Dennis Wise was the former CEO but moved to an advisor role at the beginning of the 2023–24 season, and was no longer involved in the club. Other minority shareholders include Thierry Henry and Cesc Fàbregas.[25] Originally, Como 1907 was set up as a base for Garuda Select project; however, due to change in league rule, the project was moved to England under Wise.[26][27]
On 10 May 2024, Como secured promotion to Serie A after 21 years on the final matchday of the 2023–24 Serie B by finishing in second place.[28] It is unclear whether Como, which became the richest club in Serie A,[29][30][31] will be able to play their home matches at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in 2024–25 season as the venue does not meet Serie A stadium requirements.[32]
Colours and badge
Badge
The element that has characterized almost all the crests that Como has used over the decades is the city's coat of arms in red with a silver cross in the center. In some cases, such as in their 1949–50 season, this cross was adopted in every way as a social symbol and was sewn onto the players' shirts.[33]. Another element that recurs in the club's crest are the various references to Lake Como.
Among the first known club emblems was the one adopted in 1919 which included a brown ball, surrounded by a white band with the name of the city and the coat of arms of the city. With the change of name to Associazione Calcio Comense, the emblem took the form of a circle with the name of the club on top in blue, accompanied by a white five-pointed star, and at the bottom appeared a white cross on a red field borrowed from the city's coat of arms. From the 1950s, a very enduring symbol appeared, the modern French shield (in blue) with a reproduction of the coat of arms of the city of Como inscribed in the upper left corner.[34]
In 2019, the change of ownership of Como brought with it a new logo, the choice of which was once again left to a popular vote among fans. The shield bears the club's name and a lake wave design, superimposed on a Greek cross. The design is presented monochromatically in blue or white depending on the surface of the application, while the red component is completely absent.
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Logo of the Associazione Calcio Comense, used from 1926 to 1936
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Como logo used between 1950 and 1970
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Como logo used beetwen 1992 and 2017
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Como logo used since 2019
Colours
Historically, Como's identity colours have been light blue, traditionally used on plain shirts, accompanied by white as the colour reserved for shorts and details. In the first decades of the club, this colour was used more on Como's shirts, with the use of cross, striped or palati patterns. In the third millennium, the club colours tended to decline to royal blue,[35] which also gave rise to the nickname Biancoblù.[36] As for the away kit, it is usually the reverse of the home kit, with occasional exceptions due to the colourful fashion of the time.
In 1926, when the club merged with Esperia as Associazione Calcio Comense, garnet red was chosen as a sporadic condiment on the shirts.[15] Similarly, green was adopted in 1938 after the club's merger with AS Ardita.
Kit suppliers
Period | Kit suppliers |
---|---|
1980–81 | Umbro |
1982–91 | Adidas |
1991–94 | Umbro |
1994–96 | Devis |
1906–05 | Erreà |
2005–06 | Lotto |
2006–09 | Hawk |
2009–17 | Legea |
2017–19 | HS Football |
2019–22 | Legea |
2022–24 | Erreà |
2024– | Adidas |
Stadium
Since its inauguration in 1927, Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia has been the home ground for Como to play their matches. The stadium holds 7,798 people. It was completed in 1927 and was built on the request of Benito Mussolini. It is named after the Italian rower and war hero Giuseppe Sinigaglia (1884–1916), a native of Como.[37]
Although the club secured promotion to Serie A in May 2024, it remains unclear whether they will play their home games at the Stadio Sinigaglia during the 2024–25 season as the stadium currently does not meet the minimum capacity requirements set by the league. Therefore, urgent work is needed before the start of the season to increase the capacity of the stadium.[38]
Supporters and rivalries
Como ultras movement was born with the Fossa Lariana group, which had various sections spread throughout Italy, especially in Lazio in the mid-1970s.[39] In short, Como ultras rose to prominence, rejecting the classic Italian style that was popular among the Larian ultras, characterized by drums, banners and various colors, in favor of the English style.[40]
After the supporters suffered from the relegation and failure of the club, they rose again after the new ownership by the Indonesian company Djarum Group in 2019. Como ultras were then reorganized under the banner of Como 1907, which brought together the collectives of Maledetta Gioventù (a leading group), Solo Cylom, Brusà and Away 1907.[39][40]
Como's main rivalries are with its neighbouring clubs, such as the Derby del Lario against Lecco, the Derby Insubria between against Varese, and the Derby between Como and Monza which is defined as "the hottest derby in Serie B".[41] The two clubs first played each other in Como on 19 November 1922, with the match ending in a goalless draw. The rivalry began on 4 June 1967, when Monza beat Como 1–0 in the decisive promotion play-off match of the Serie B.[42] It became more intense on 13 April 1980; with Monza leading 3–1, Como equalised in the last minute with a penalty. The 3–3 draw ended Monza's chances of promotion to the Serie A.[43]
Players
First-team squad
- As of 1 August 2024[44]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Other players under contract
- As of 1 August 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
- As of 1 August 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Former players
Club captains
Trofeo Borgonovo
Since 2012–13 season, a yearly award is given at the end of the season in order to recognize the team's best player or staff member. The trophy is named after Stefano Borgonovo and is organized by the club's supporters. Up to 2021–22 season, following were awarded:[45]
- 2012–13 Alfredo Donnarumma
- 2013–14 Giuseppe Le Noci
- 2014–15 Simone Andrea Ganz
- 2015–16 Daniel Bessa
- 2016–17 Luca Zanotti
- 2017–18 Matteo Kucich
- 2018–19 Alessandro Gabrielloni
- 2019–20 Alberto Giughello (team doctor)
- 2020–21 Massimiliano Gatto
- 2021–22 Davide Facchin
- 2022–23 Alberto Cerri
- 2023–24 Patrick Cutrone
Coaching staff
- As of 1 August 2024
Position | Name |
---|---|
Head coach | Cesc Fàbregas |
Assistant coach | Marc Bircham |
Technical assistant | Marco Cassetti |
Dani Guindos | |
Goalkeeping coach | Enrico Malatesta |
Fitness coacH | Andrea Bernasconi |
Andrea Castellani | |
Team manager | Giuseppe Calandra |
Physiotherapist | Simone Gallo |
Alessandro Pozzoli | |
Head of development | Osian Roberts |
Secretary | Emanuela Lubian |
Chairmen and managers
Chairmen history
Como has had numerous chairmen over the course of its history. Here is a complete list of them.
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Managerial history
Below is a list of Como managers from 1913 until the present day.
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Honours
League
Cups
- Coppa Italia Serie C
- Winners: 1996–97
- Coppa Italia Serie D
- Winners: 2007–08
Divisional movements
Series | Years | First | Last | Best result | Promotions | Relegations |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | 14 | 1949–50 | 2024–25 | 6th (1950) | 5 (1953, 1976, 1982, 1989, 2003) | |
B | 37 | 1931–32 | 2023–24 | Winner (1949, 1980, 2002) | 6 (1949, 1975, 1980, 1984, 2002, 2024) | 7 (1935, 1963, 1978, 1990, 1995, 2004, 2016) |
C | 34
+1 |
1929–30 | 2020–21 | Winner (1931, 1968, 1979, 2021)
3rd (2009 C2) |
8 (1931, 1946, 1968, 1979, 1994, 2001, 2015, 2021)
1 (2009 C2) |
3 (1936, 2005✟, 2017✟) |
86 out of 93 years of professional football in Italy since 1929 | ||||||
D
+R |
5
+2 |
1936–37 | 2018–19 | Winner (2008, 2019) | 3 (1938, 2008, 2019) | never |
Notes
References
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- ^ a b "Cosenza e Como, promozione in C2" (in Italian). Corriere dello Sport. 27 April 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2008.[permanent dead link]
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- ^ "(Questioni relative al fallimento della società di calcio Como – n. 2-01566)". Camera dei deputati (in Italian). 30 June 2005. Archived from the original on 1 September 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
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- ^ Vitale, Matteo (21 April 2022). "Exclusive: Como 1907 reveal plans to build club from ground up like Atalanta". Tribal Football. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Campanale, Susy (10 May 2024). "Como and Parma promoted to Serie A, play-offs set". Football Italia. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
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Marcatore: Maggioni al 32' del primo tempo.
- ^ Artesani, Giulio (14 November 2021). "Derby Monza – Como, perché i lariani ci stanno tanto antipatici." Monza-News (in Italian). Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
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- ^ "Trofeo Borgonovo: La 10ª edizione è di Facchin". 13 May 2022. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.