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| A.C. Fiorentina | |
|---|---|
| Clubname | Fiorentina |
| Fullname | Associazione Calcio Fiorentina S.p.A. |
| Nickname | Viola, Gigliati |
| Founded | 1926 |
| Ground | Stadio Artemio Franchi |
| Capacity | 43,147 |
| Chairman | Rocco Commisso |
| Manager | Daniele Pradè |
| League | Serie A |
| Season | 2023–24 |
| Position | 8th |
A.C. Fiorentina
Founded in 1926, the club from Florence has been a prominent Italian football institution competing in Serie A, with historic rivalries across Tuscany and nationwide. The team has won multiple major trophies including the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, and plays home matches at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Over decades it has produced notable players and managers who featured in competitions such as the UEFA Europa League, European Cup, and international tournaments like the FIFA World Cup.
The club emerged from the merger of local sides including CS Firenze and PG Libertas in 1926, during a period shaped by figures like Gino Rossetti and administrators linked to the Italian Football Federation. Early decades saw promotion battles involving clubs such as Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan, culminating in the first Serie A title under coach Nereo Rocco in the 1955–56 era of competition. The 1960s and 1970s featured European runs against teams from Spain, England, and West Germany, highlighted by a European trophy in 1961–62. Financial difficulties led to bankruptcy and reformation episodes in the 2000s, intersecting with personalities such as Diego Della Valle and investor groups linked to international sports business. Recent years under owners like Rocco Commisso have focused on stabilization, youth development tied to academies that have produced players called up to national teams like Italy national football team.
Home matches are hosted at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, an arena designed by architect Araldo Cossutta with roots in the Fascist architecture era and inaugurated in the 1930s. The ground has witnessed European fixtures against clubs such as Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and staging of domestic cup finals involving AS Roma and SS Lazio. Renovation projects have been discussed with municipal authorities including the Comune di Firenze and examined by UEFA inspectors during UEFA stadium infrastructure assessments. The venue sits near landmarks like the Ponte Vecchio and attracts supporters from provinces such as Prato and Pisa.
The team's signature purple kit links to Florentine symbols like the Giglio Fiorentino and to cultural institutions including the Uffizi Gallery and Florence Cathedral. Traditional kit suppliers and sponsors have included international brands that also clothed clubs such as Real Madrid and Manchester United during commercial campaigns. The club crest has evolved, featuring the red fleur-de-lis from the Coat of arms of Florence and sometimes the stylized viola monogram used in merchandise sold alongside products by fashion houses such as Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo headquartered in Florence. Special edition kits have commemorated events like the European Heritage Days and anniversaries associated with the Renaissance.
Notable players who wore the colours include Giuseppe Virgili, Gabriel Batistuta, Roberto Baggio, Francesco Toldo, Sebastian Frey, and Federico Chiesa, several of whom represented national teams including Argentina national football team and Italy national football team at tournaments like the UEFA European Championship. Prominent managers have included Giovanni Trapattoni, Cesare Prandelli, and Sinisa Mihajlovic, with technical staff collaborating with directors such as Pantaleo Corvino and sporting directors who negotiated transfers involving clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid. The academy has produced talents who progressed through youth competitions organized by FIGC and scouted by international clubs including AC Milan and Juventus.
Major honours include Serie A titles won in seasons that saw competition against Inter Milan and Juventus, multiple Coppa Italia triumphs contested with Napoli and Torino, and the continental UEFA Cup Winners' Cup success. The trophy cabinet also features Supercoppa Italiana appearances and youth-level titles from tournaments affiliated with UEFA Youth League structures. Domestic cup runs often involved two-legged ties against rivals like Bologna and Sampdoria.
Supporter groups maintain strong identities tied to Florentine civic pride, creating choreographies around icons such as the Piazza della Signoria and participating in tifoseria networks seen across Italian fan culture alongside groups for AC Milan and Inter Milan. Derby matches against Empoli and regional clashes with Siena and Pisa SC generate intense local interest, while ultras factions have engaged in charitable initiatives with organizations like Croce Rossa Italiana and local cultural festivals such as the Scoppio del Carro. Media coverage by outlets including La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport frequently documents transfers, tactical debates, and supporter mobilization.
Club records include top scorers such as Gabriel Batistuta for goals in Serie A and all competitions, appearance leaders among captains like Giuseppe Chiappella, and longest unbeaten runs in domestic sequences comparable to runs by AC Milan in historical seasons. Attendance records were set during high-profile fixtures versus teams such as Juventus and in European nights against Liverpool F.C.; statistical archives are maintained by bodies like FIGC and databases used by commentators from RAI Sport and Sky Sport Italia.
Category:Football clubs in Italy