Novara Calcio

Novara
Full name Novara Calcio S.p.A.
Nickname(s) Biancoazzurri (The White-Blues)
Founded 1908 (1908)
Ground Stadio Silvio Piola,
Novara, Italy
Ground Capacity 17,875
Chairman Carlo Accornero
Manager Roberto Boscaglia
League Serie B
2015–16 Serie B, 8th
Website Club home page

Novara Calcio is an Italian football club based in Novara, Piedmont.

History

In December 1908 the F.A.S. (Football Association Studenti) was created by eight students of Liceo Carlo Alberto, aged between 15–16 years; among them an engineer, Gianni Canestrini, and a lawyer, Piero Zorini. In Novara in those days, there were other small clubs like Voluntas, Pro Scalon, Ginnastica e Scherma, Forza & Speranza, Collegio Gallarini and many other student bodies. The best players from these teams came together to form Novara Calcio, and made their debut in the Italian league on 3 November 1912.

The first match was played against a team already then established as Torino, who won 2–1, with the first Novara goal scored by Mario Menendez.

In the years between World War I and World War II, Novara merged with Pro Vercelli, Alessandria and Casale to make the so-called "quadrilatero piemontese" (Piedmont Quadrilateral). Novara's highest finish came in 1952 when they finished in eighth place in Serie A.

During these years of staying in the top flight, Novara had Silvio Piola to thank. His many goals (which at the end of his career was over 300), made a huge contribution to the cause of Novara. Following his death in 1996, the stadium at which Novara play was dedicated in his name.

In 1956 came relegation to Serie B, and another five years afterwards, they slipped down to Serie C due to a fraudulent complaint by a Sambenedettese player.

A few successful seasons in Serie B followed, but then Novara stumbled again in 1977 with relegation to Serie C and worse in 1981 to Serie C2. In the 1995–96 season, Novara were back in Serie C1, but this joy was short-lived as the following year, the biancoazzurri again had to deal with relegation.

Years were spent in the shadows of Italian football until more recently when the league was won in the 2002–03 season.

From Lega Pro Prima Divisione to Serie A

Consolidation in Serie C1 followed, later becoming Lega Pro Prima Divisione, until the historic promotion of the 2009–10 season where the club returned to Serie B after 33 years.[1]

On 12 June 2011, Novara remarkably secured its promotion to Serie A after a 55-year absence from the league, by defeating Padova in the play-off final.[2] Both consecutive promotions were achieved under the tenure of head coach Attilio Tesser, who was confirmed as Novara boss also for the following 2011–12 top flight campaign.

2011–12 Serie A

On 20 September 2011, the first home game in Serie A for 55 years, Novara recorded an historic 3–1 victory over the World Champions[3] of Inter.[4]

This remarkable feat, however, was not representative of their season as Novara managed to win only one more game until the end of January. The manager Attilio Tesser was replaced by veteran coach Emiliano Mondonico and re-hired one month later in a desperate and ultimately vain attempt by the owners to save the club from relegation. The club was immediately relegated again to Serie B after one season.

The decision of the club to sign Greek footballer Giorgos Katidis caused worldwide condemnation. Katidis was banned for life from the Greek league after he showed the nazi "Sieg Heil" salute on the field.[5]

Novara finished 5th in 2012–13 season but were eliminated by Empoli in the promotion play-offs. The following season was terrible for Novara as the club finished 19th in Serie B and lost in a play-out against Varese, losing 4–2 on aggregate. Thus, Novara were relegated to Lega Pro. Novara were crowned as champions of Group A of Lega Pro in 2014–15 and immediately returned to Serie B.

Current squad

As of 31 August 2016.[6]

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

No. Position Player
1 Switzerland GK David Da Costa
2 Denmark DF Magnus Troest
3 Italy DF Andrea Mantovani
4 Italy MF Nicolas Viola
5 Italy MF Federico Casarini
6 Italy DF Gennaro Scognamiglio
7 Slovenia FW Gregor Bajde (on loan from Maribor)
8 Italy MF Paolo Faragò
9 Italy FW Francesco Di Mariano
11 Italy FW Simone Corazza
14 Senegal DF Mustapha Beye
16 Bulgaria FW Andrey Galabinov
17 Italy MF Gennaro Armeno
No. Position Player
18 Italy FW Gianluca Sansone
19 Italy MF Francesco Bolzoni
20 Poland MF Tomasz Kupisz (on loan from Chievo)
21 Morocco FW Hicham Kanis
22 San Marino GK Elia Benedettini
23 Hungary MF Krisztián Adorján
24 Italy DF Lorenzo Dickmann
27 Italy DF Marco Calderoni (on loan from Chievo)
28 Ghana MF Ransford Selasi (on loan from Pescara)
30 Switzerland DF Philippe Koch
31 Italy GK Francesco Pacini
33 Italy DF Filippo Romagna (on loan from Juventus)

Reserve

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player
Italy GK Lorenzo Montipò (on loan at Carpi)
Italy DF Angelo Tartaglia (on loan at Andria)
Argentina MF Nicolás Schiavi (on loan at Modena)
 

Notable former players

Managers

References

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