LFA Reggio Calabria

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LFA Reggio Calabria
Full nameLFA Reggio Calabria
Nickname(s)Gli Amaranto (The Amaranth)[citation needed]
Founded1914; 110 years ago (1914), as US Reggio Calabria
GroundStadio Oreste Granillo
Capacity27,763[citation needed][contradictory]
OwnerAntonino Ballarino, Alice Ballarino, Marika Ballarino, Virgilio Minniti, Fabio Vitale
ChairmanVirgilio Minniti[citation needed]
ManagerBruno Trocini[citation needed]
LeagueSerie D Group I
2022–23Serie B, 7th of 20 (excluded)
WebsiteClub website
Current season

La Fenice Amaranto Reggio Calabria, commonly referred to as Reggina, is an Italian football club based in Reggio Calabria. They play their home matches at the 27,763 seater Stadio Oreste Granillo and are currently playing in the Serie D league.

They are nicknamed the Amaranto (amaranth) after their official dark red colours. The club was formerly known as Reggina Calcio before declaring bankruptcy in 2015, as well as A.S.D. Reggio Calabria in the 2015–16 season, Urbs Reggina 1914 from 2016 to 2019, Reggina 1914 from 2019 to 2023, and LFA Reggio Calabria from 2023.

In its previous guise, the club played in the Serie A for nine seasons between 1999 and 2009, including a seven-year consecutive spell starting in 2002. During these years, the club narrowly avoided relegation in most seasons and never finished in the top half. After failing to make a return in the first few years the club fell into financial and sporting difficulties, culminating in falling into the lower tiers of Italian football before returning to the Serie B in 2020.

Names[edit]

The club was founded on 11 January 1914 as Unione Sportiva Reggio Calabria. It changed name many times (Società Calcistica Reggio, Reggio Foot Ball Club, Associazione Sportiva Reggina, Società Sportiva La Dominante), finally assuming the denomination Reggina Calcio in 1986.

After the 2015 bankruptcy, the club had used A.S.D. Reggio Calabria as the new name of the new legal person, and then the club changed to the denomination Urbs Reggina 1914 S.r.l. in 2016, and, between 2019 and 2023, Reggina 1914 S.r.l..

Following the most recent club exclusion in 2023, the club was refounded as LFA Reggio Calabria.[1]

History[edit]

The club was founded on 11 January 1914.

Serie A (1999–2009)[edit]

In the late 1990s to 2000s, Reggina have been alternating between the top two levels of the Italian league system. They reached the Italian top division Serie A for the first time in 1999.[2] Two years later, they lost a relegation playout to Verona, being consequently relegated to 2001–02 Serie B.[3] Reggina finished third in Serie B in 2002, earning a return to Serie A. In 2003, Reggina survived a relegation playout against Atalanta. They would spend the next 7 years maintaining their Serie A status until their eventual relegation in the 2008–09 season.

In August 2006, they were indicted as part of the second wave of Calciopoli investigations. Originally punished with a 15-point deduction for the 2006–07 Serie A,[4] then reduced to 11 points following appeal.[5] Despite the heavy deduction of points, Reggina managed to save themselves from relegation, defeating newly crowned UEFA Champions League winners Milan on the final matchday and ending the season with 40 points (including the deduction), just one single point above the third relegation spot, occupied by Chievo. They poorly started the Serie A 2007-08, causing head coach Massimo Ficcadenti to be sacked and replaced by Renzo Ulivieri.[6] A third managerial change, with Ulivieri fired and replacing with team scout Nevio Orlandi, proved to be successful as Reggina improved their results and performances, escaping relegation with key wins at Catania, and home to Empoli. Orlandi was subsequently confirmed at the helm of the amaranto for the Serie A 2008–09.

Serie B (2009–2014)[edit]

Since their relegation in 2008–09 season, Reggina has become slightly inconsistent[according to whom?] in their attempts to return to Italy's top flight. The 2009–10 season would see three coaches at the helm; Walter Novellino, Ivo Iaconi, Roberto Breda. Despite possessing Bonazzoli, Carmona, Tedesco, Brienza and home grown star Missiroli they were unable to gain a better position than 13th.[7] Disappointing for a team just relegated from the top division. Top goal scorer for the campaign was Brienza with 12.

The 2010–11 season was regarded[by whom?] as one of the Amaranto's best in Serie B. Shockingly they would conduct their usual coaching merry go round,[tone] as Gianluca Atzori would lead them to a 6th-place finish and playoffs to Serie A.[8] they would stumble at the last hurdle losing to Novara in a two legged play off. Top players include; Acerbi, Missiroli, Tedesco, Brienza, Bonazzoli (C) and Milan Loanee Adiyiah. Top goal scorer: Bonazzoli with 19 goals[8]

The 2011–12 season was another disappointing season[according to whom?] from the Amaranto, with a 12th-placed finish. Two coaches took charge of Reggina this season; Roberto Breda initially, before being sacked and replaced by Angelo Gregucci, only to be replaced by Breda again towards the end of the season. Unlike the previous season they did not make the play-offs.[9] Top players in this season's squad include: Adejo, Emerson, (Ramos Borges Emerson), Missiroli, Bonazzoli (C), and Ceravolo. Top scorer was Ceravolo with 11.

The 2012–13 season would be marred with yet another controversy similar to that of 2006.[tone] Reggina were penalised for the latest match fixing scandal that hit Italian shores[tone] and were given a −4 penalty as a result.[10] After appeal it was reduced to −2 instead. They were in contention for playoff places right until the last few rounds where poor form saw them end the season in 11th place.

The 2013–14 season ended in disaster,[tone] as Reggina won just six out of 42 games and finished second bottom, resulting in relegation to Lega Pro. The season also marked Foti's retirement from his role as president, who was handed over to Giuseppe Ranieri.

Lega Pro[edit]

For the club's 2014–15 Lega Pro campaign, Reggina began the season with former captain Francesco Cozza as head coach. After a difficult start[according to whom?] to the season and two coaching changes, youth team coach and former player Giacomo Tedesco was hired as head coach for the final three weeks of the season. Despite winning two of the final three matches, Reggina finished last in the league and would have to rely on an appeal of their point penalty to lift them out of the relegation zone. The appeal was successful and 2 points were returned to move them out of last place. Tedesco guided the team to survival in the playout over rivals Messina.

Serie D one-year stint[edit]

Despite avoiding relegation in the 2014–15 season, Reggina failed to meet the deadline to register for Lega Pro and the club declared bankruptcy.[11] A new legal person of the club, "A.S.D. Reggio Calabria", was formed to play in Serie D for the 2015–16 season,[12] Reggio Calabria ended the season in 4th place, losing in the first round of playoffs against Cavese. During the season the club also re-incorporated from associazione sportiva dilettantistica to società sportiva dilettantistica a responsabilità limitata legal form.

Reggio Calabria was owned by Mimmo Praticò,[13] former regional president of CONI.[14]

Back to Serie C[edit]

In June 2016, it was reported that the club was renamed from "S.S.D. Reggio Calabria a r.l." to "S.S.D. Urbs Sportiva Reggina 1914 a r.l.".[15] The club was then renamed as Urbs Reggina 1914 S.r.l.

Despite finishing as the losing side of the first round of the promotion playoffs of 2015–16 Serie D, the club filed for Lega Pro (later renamed Serie C) repechage to fill one of the vacancies for the 2016–17 season[16] and was successfully admitted.[17] Reggina ended the season in 13th place.

In January 2019, facing a crisis with a potential player strike due to non-payment of salaries,[citation needed] the club was sold to Italian entrepreneur Luca Gallo.[18]

On 1 July 2019, the club announced to change the name to "Reggina 1914 S.r.l.".[19]

Serie B return[edit]

Reggina won its Serie C group in 2020, earning a promotion back to the Serie B for the upcoming season.[vague] The team upon its Serie B return included experienced players from higher levels[vague] including Jérémy Ménez and Germán Denis.

In the 2022-23 season under the guidance of manager Filippo Inzaghi, Reggina finished in a playoff position, despite being given a five point deduction for failing to pay taxes and player salaries on time. The deduction was initially seven points, but was reduced to five following an appeal.

2023 exclusion and restart[edit]

On 1 July 2023, Reggina was excluded from Serie B for the 2023-24 season after Covisoc rejected their application due to financial irregularities.[20] On appeal, the Federal Council confirmed Reggina's exclusion. The following level of appeal, the Collegio di Garanzia of the Italian Olympic Committee, withheld the decision. On 3 August, the Administrative Court of Rome again rejected Reggina's request for readmission. On 30 August, Reggina was again rejected at the final level of appeals, the Council of State. Brescia was readmitted to the league after the confirmed exclusion of Reggina.

On 1 September 2023, acting mayor of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, Paolo Brunetti, received approval from the Italian Football Federation to enroll a club in Serie D for the 2023–24 season. The club was successively handed over to a Catania-based consortium led by Antonino Ballarino, named La Fenice Amaranto (The amaranth phoenix), which submitted a league application and will take part to the season under the new denomination of LFA Reggio Calabria, as the new club was forbidden to use the Reggina 1914 name or logo for the upcoming season.[why?]

Rivalries[edit]

Reggina are fierce rivals with neighbours Messina, who are just a twenty-minute ferry ride apart from each other. Twice every season they play the Derby dello Stretto (Strait of Messina Derby). In the 2014–15 season, Reggina defeated Messina in both legs of the playout to send Messina down to Serie D. There is also a major Calabrian derby between Reggina and Crotone, but both teams have not played in the same league in for two years.[when?] Reggina also has a derby with fellow Calabrian team Catanzaro, which is currently in Serie B.

Colours and badges[edit]

Reggina used a logo with a letter R and a football on it. Some variant of the logo, had 1986, the year of foundation of Reggina Calcio on it.[21] Due to 2015 bankruptcy, the new owner introduced a new logo as the old design was tied to the old legal person of the club. Due to 2016 renaming, some modification was introduced, which a letter R was re-introduced in the logo.[22] However, the design of the ball on the 2016 logo was different from the historical logo, which the 2016 logo used a leather ball.[22] In 2019, the club reverted to use the historical design of the logo.[23]

Players[edit]

Current squad[edit]

As of 1 February 2024

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Argentina ARG Marco Fecit (on loan from Arezzo)
2 DF Nigeria NGA Daniel Adejo
4 MF Italy ITA Francesco Salandria
5 DF Italy ITA Andrea Ingegneri
6 DF The Gambia GAM Eliman Cham
7 MF Italy ITA Domenico Mungo
8 MF Italy ITA Emanuele Zucco
9 FW Argentina ARG Tomás Bolzicco
11 FW Albania ALB Ardit Lika
12 GK Romania ROU Valentin Velcea
14 DF Italy ITA Andrea Zanchi
17 MF Italy ITA Antonino Barillà
18 FW Italy ITA Niccolò Marras
20 FW Italy ITA Alessandro Provazza
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 GK Spain ESP Miguel Ángel Martínez
23 MF Italy ITA Marcel Perri
25 DF Italy ITA Matteo Martiner (on loan from Pro Vercelli)
27 FW Italy ITA Lorenzo Rosseti
28 DF Italy ITA Vincenzo Mattia Rana (on loan from Bari)
32 DF Albania ALB Kristian Dervishi
36 MF Italy ITA Cristiano Belpanno
40 MF Italy ITA Pietro Simonetta
43 DF Serbia SRB Milan Kremenovic
66 DF Italy ITA Stefano Parodi
68 DF Italy ITA Domenico Girasole
71 DF Italy ITA Antonio Porcino
75 DF Italy ITA Filippo Samuele Latella
95 FW France FRA Bertony Renelus

On loan[edit]

As of 31 August 2023

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

No. Pos. Nation Player

Notable players[edit]

Club staff[edit]

Position Name
Owner Italy Nino Ballarino
President Italy Virgilio Minniti
Technical Director Italy Giuseppe Bonanno
Sporting Director Italy Maurizio Pellegrino
Treasurer Italy Marika Ballarino
Manager Italy Bruno Trocini
Assistant Manager Argentina Maximiliano Ginobili
Athletic Trainer Italy Giuseppe Saccà
Goalkeeping Coach Italy Antonino Liuzzo
Match Analyst Italy Danilo Polito
Team Doctor Italy Pasquale Favasuli

Managerial history[edit]

Reggina have had many managers and trainers throughout the history of the club, in some seasons more than one manager was in charge. Here is the chronological list of them from 1928.

Kit manufacturer & sponsors[edit]

Kit manufacturer[edit]

  • 1981–1987: NR
  • 1987-1991: Adidas
  • 1991–1995: Devis
  • 1995–2005: ASICS
  • 2005–2011: Onze
  • 2011–2013: Givova
  • 2013–2014: Lotto
  • 2014–2015: Legea
  • 2015–2017: Onze
  • 2017-2020: Legea
  • 2020-2022: Macron
  • 2023-....: Givova

Sponsors[edit]

  • 1982–1983: Peugeot-Talbot Bi.effe.di
  • 1983–1984: Kalabria
  • 1984–1985: JONICAGRUMI
  • 1986–1987: A & O Discount
  • 1987–1988: Mangiatorella Acqua
  • 1988–1989: Balocco Dolciumi
  • 1990–1993: Gis Gelati
  • 1993–1994: Eurokeller Caldaie
  • 1994–1995: A & O Supermercati
  • 1995–2003: Mauro Caffè
  • 2003–2004: Spi/ Stocco & Stocco/ Credit Suisse/ FamilyMart
  • 2004–2006: Gicos/ Stocco & Stocco
  • 2006–2009: Gicos/ Regione Calabria
  • 2009–2010: Stocco & Stocco/ Guglielmo Caffe/ Ipac/ La Gru
  • 2010–2011: Provincia Di Reggio Calabria/ Stocco & Stocco/ La Fabrica Dello Sport/ Zappala/ Canale/ Mobylia Design/ Progetto5/ Goalsbet Italia/ La Gru
  • 2011–2012: Impresa Canale/ Goalsbet Italia/ Diano/ La Gru/ Stocco & Stocco/ Progetto5
  • 2012–2013: Stocco & Stocco
  • 2013–2014: Ciao Telecom
  • 2014–2015: Canale Costruzioni
  • 2015–2016: La Saline Resort
  • 2016-2017: Ecoenergy/ Polimeno Pietro srl/ Apollo/ Clichè/ Generali assicurazioni
  • 2017-2018: Patea; Volkswagen Bencivenni Group/ Puliservice/ Sudauto/ hotel

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Fenice Amaranto si chiamerà LFA Reggio Calabria: le ultime" (in Italian). SerieD24.com. 15 September 2023.
  2. ^ Caruso, Francesco (17 June 1999). "Colomba Reggina, si riparte". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Milan: RCS MediaGroup. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  3. ^ Condo', Paolo; Caruso, Francesco; Archetti, Pierfrancesco; Capone, Antonello (25 June 2001). "Alla fine gode Verona: Reggio dal sogno all' incubo". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Milan: RCS MediaGroup. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Reggina given Serie A reprieve". UEFA.com. 17 August 2006. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 18 August 2006.
  5. ^ "Reggina match-fixing penalty reduced by four points". foxsports.com. 12 December 2006. Retrieved 12 December 2006.[dead link]
  6. ^ "Reggina call on Ulivieri". Football Italia. Channel 4. 1 November 2007. Archived from the original on 3 November 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
  7. ^ "Reggina Serie 2009–10 stats". Football-Lineups.
  8. ^ a b "Reggina Serie 2010–2011 stats". Football-Lineups.
  9. ^ "Reggina Serie 2011–12 stats". Football-Lineups.
  10. ^ "First punishments in Italian football corruption scandal". Marca.
  11. ^ "Reggina, Venezia and Varese bankrupt". Football Italia. Tiro Media. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  12. ^ "L'ASD Reggio Calabria ammessa in Serie D. Il Varese Calcio, in Eccellenza" (Press release) (in Italian). Italian Football Federation (FIGC). 7 August 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  13. ^ "Ciccio Cozza allenatore Asd Reggio" (in Italian). Reggio Calabria. ANSA. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  14. ^ "Mimmo Praticò rieletto Presidente del Coni Calabria". Comitato Regionale Calabria. Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI). 24 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  15. ^ "Reggina, ufficiale il cambio di denominazione: benvenuta "Urbs Sportiva Reggina 1914", stop a dubbi e fantasie". Strettoweb (in Italian). Editore Socedit. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  16. ^ "Licenza d'Uso alla Urbs Reggina per lo Stadio Oreste Granillo" (Press release) (in Italian). Comune di Reggio Calabria. 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Lega Pro, i ripescaggi: Reggina e Taranto tornano tra i professionisti" [Lega Pro, the repechage: Reggina and Taranto back among the professionals]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Milan: RCS MediaGroup. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  18. ^ Written at Reggio Calabria. "Serie C Reggina, Luca Gallo è il nuovo proprietario del club". Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). Rome. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  19. ^ "Cambio denominazione sociale" (Press release) (in Italian). Reggina 1914. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Reggina excluded from Serie B, Lecco allowed in - Football Italia". 7 July 2023.
  21. ^ "REGGINA, ECCO IL LOGO, la storia della R stilizzata: l'evoluzione dalla prima A all'ultima versione prima dell'oblio". tuttoreggina.com (in Italian). 28 February 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  22. ^ a b "REGGINA, ECCO IL NUOVO LOGO: C'E' ANCHE LA R STILIZZATA". tuttoreggina.com (in Italian). 13 August 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  23. ^ "REGGINA - La società annuncia l'acquisto del marchio della Reggina Calcio 1986: il video". tuttoreggina.com (in Italian). 27 February 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.

External links[edit]