2003–04 U.S. Città di Palermo season

U.S. Città di Palermo played the season 2003-04 in the Serie B league. The rosanero ended the season in first place, being crowned Serie B champions and promoted to Serie A after over 30 years in the lower divisions.

Review and events

Ambitious Palermo failed to gain promotion to Serie A in the previous season following a 3-0 away defeat in the final match against Lecce, which were promoted at Palermo's place. That dramatic defeat was also the last appearance in his playing career for team captain Antonino Asta, who seriously injured during the match and did not manage to recover; he was part of the first team squad in the season 2003-04, without however making a single appearance. Following the events, Palermo made a number of prominent signings in the summer market, such as Eugenio Corini, Andrea Gasbarroni and Luca Toni; in addition, Palermo-born star Gaetano Vasari agreed to join the rosanero with a salary based on the number of appearances he would have made in the season. Silvio Baldini was appointed as new boss to replace Nedo Sonetti. Several football pundits suggested Palermo to be the real favourite team to win the Serie B league because of the quality of its roster.

The team made a very impressive start by defeating Gianfranco Zola's Cagliari Calcio, and managed to be always in the promotion spots. However, following a surprising 3-1 home defeat to Salernitana that brought Palermo down to third place, Baldini heavily criticized club chairman Maurizio Zamparini who consequently fired him and appointed Francesco Guidolin at his place. On the last day of the January transfer market, three new notable signings were made: Antonio Filippini, Emanuele Filippini and Fabio Grosso. Palermo later returned to top the table and eventually won the league, ending with the same points than Cagliari, but being crowned as Serie B champions due to head-to-head matches.

2003-04 squad

No. Pos Nat Player TotalSerie B Coppa Italia
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Italy Gianluca Berti 43 -35 42 -35 1 0
12 GK Italy Nicola Santoni 8 -10 4 -4 4 -6
84 GK Italy Paolo Comi 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 DF Italy Gianluca Atzori 18 0 17 0 1 0
6 DF Italy Christian Terlizzi 15 0 12 0 3 0
13 DF Italy Pietro Accardi 35 0 32 0 3 0
18 DF Italy Fabio Grosso 21 1 21 1 0 0
21 DF Italy Giuseppe Biava 19 3 19 3 0 0
25 DF Sierra Leone Kewullay Conteh 34 0 32 0 2 0
29 DF Romania Valentin Năstase 19 1 16 1 3 0
81 DF Italy Michele Ferri 39 2 36 1 3 1
5 MF Italy Eugenio Corini 43 12 40 12 3 0
7 MF Italy Gaetano Vasari 30 2 26 1 4 1
8 MF Italy Daniele Di Donato 39 3 39 3 0 0
10 MF Italy Lamberto Zauli 24 4 21 4 3 0
11 MF Italy Salvatore Masiello 22 0 18 0 4 0
17 MF Italy Antonino Asta 0 0 0 0 0 0
22 MF Italy Massimo Mutarelli 44 2 41 2 3 0
23 MF Italy Emanuele Filippini 20 4 20 4 0 0
26 MF Italy Antonio Filippini 21 2 21 2 0 0
46 MF Italy Andrea Gasbarroni 41 6 39 6 2 0
79 MF Italy Evans Soligo 13 1 9 0 4 1
82 MF Italy Nicola Milano 1 0 0 0 1 0
9 FW Italy Luca Toni 47 30 45 30 2 0
20 FW Italy Simone Pepe 24 3 19 1 5 2
24 FW Nigeria John Otuagomah Olufemi 1 0 0 0 1 0
30 FW Brazil Jeda 17 3 17 3 0 0
Players sold or loaned out during the January transfer market:
3 DF Italy Francesco Modesto 6 0 1 0 5 0
18 MF Italy Franco Brienza 21 1 18 1 3 0
21 MF Romania Paul Codrea 12 0 8 0 4 0
23 MF Italy Ighli Vannucchi 11 2 8 0 3 2

January transfer market bids

In
18 Italy DF Fabio Grosso (from Perugia)
21 Italy DF Giuseppe Biava (from AlbinoLeffe)
23 Italy MF Emanuele Filippini (from Parma)
26 Italy MF Antonio Filippini (from Brescia)
30 Brazil FW Jeda (from Vicenza)
Out
3 Italy DF Francesco Modesto (to Reggina)
18 Italy MF Franco Brienza (on loan to Perugia)
21 Romania MF Paul Codrea (on loan to Perugia)
23 Italy MF Ighli Vannucchi (to Empoli)
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