2004–05 U.S. Città di Palermo season

U.S. Città di Palermo played the season 2004-05 in the Serie A league. It was the first time Palermo entered the top division since 1973.

Review and events

Palermo returned to Serie A in 2004 as Serie B champions. Francesco Guidolin was confirmed at the helm of the rosanero and a number of valuable signings were made in the summer market: among them, Andrea Barzagli, Cristian Zaccardo, Simone Barone (all three then part of the Italian squad that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup) and Argentines Mariano González and Ernesto Farías. The team was widely expected to be a candidate for a mid-table place because of the high quality of its roster. All these events provoked a notable excitement among the local fanbase, leading to a sale of over 30,000 season tickets which caused each Stadio Renzo Barbera seat to be assigned to a season ticket holder.

Palermo enjoyed a great start and quickly entered into the race for a UEFA Cup spot, ending the first half of the season in fifth place, only three points behind fourth-placed Inter. For a while the team appeared also capable to fight for a place in the next Champions' League, but failed in do so and Udinese eventually gained the last of the four available spots. Palermo ended in sixth place with 53 points, nine behind Udinese and eight behind fifth-placed Sampdoria. After the final match, Guidolin tended his resignations, and Luigi Delneri was quickly appointed at his place.

In the Coppa Italia tournament, the rosanero reached the round of 16 after having defeated Salernitana 3-2 on aggregate. The return match notably marked the only two goals by Argentine striker Ernesto Farías, who failed to impress in the Italian top league and was sold to River Plate in the January transfer window. In order to replace him, Davide Possanzini was signed by from AlbinoLeffe. Palermo then went on to be defeated 4-1 on aggregate by AC Milan.

2004-05 squad

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Serie A		Coppa Italia
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK		Nicola Santoni	5	-9	1	-3	4	-6
84	GK		Paolo Comi	0	0	0	0	0	0
99	GK		Matteo Guardalben	37	-41	37	-41	0	0
2	DF		Cristian Zaccardo	37	2	35	2	2	0
6	DF		Christian Terlizzi	19	1	15	1	4	0
11	DF		Fabio Grosso	38	1	36	1	2	0
13	DF		Pietro Accardi	3	0	1	0	2	0
21	DF		Giuseppe Biava	32	0	29	0	3	0
25	DF		Kewullay Conteh	15	0	14	0	1	0
43	DF		Andrea Barzagli	40	0	37	0	3	0
81	DF		Michele Ferri	9	0	7	0	2	0
4	MF		Stefano Morrone	27	0	23	0	4	0
5	MF		Eugenio Corini	37	0	35	0	2	0
8	MF		Simone Barone	38	2	35	2	3	0
10	MF		Lamberto Zauli	28	4	27	4	1	0
18	MF		Mario Santana	33	3	30	3	3	0
19	MF		Mariano González	25	2	21	2	4	0
20	MF		Cristian Raimondi	17	0	14	0	3	0
22	MF		Massimo Mutarelli	26	1	24	1	2	0
90	MF		Franco Brienza	37	11	33	10	4	1
9	FW		Luca Toni	36	21	35	20	1	1
14	FW		Davide Possanzini	2	0	2	0	0	0
26	FW		Pietro Balistreri	3	0	2	0	1	0
Players sold or loaned out during the January transfer market:
30	DF		Adriano Pereira da Silva	3	0	1	0	2	0
46	MF		Andrea Gasbarroni	9	0	9	0	0	0
7	FW		Ernesto Farías	16	2	13	0	3	2

January transfer market bids

In

14

FW

Davide Possanzini (from AlbinoLeffe)

Out

30		DF	Adriano Pereira da Silva (loaned to Atalanta)
46		MF	Andrea Gasbarroni (to Sampdoria)
7		FW	Ernesto Farías (to River Plate)

Results

Serie A

Date and time	Opponent team	Home/Away	Result
Sep 12, 2004 – 15.00	Siena	H	1-0
Sep 18, 2004 – 20.30	Inter	A	1-1
Sep 22, 2004 – 20.30	Fiorentina	H	0-0
Sep 25, 2004 – 20.30	Juventus	A	1-1
Oct 3, 2004 – 15.00	Bologna	H	1-0
Oct 17, 2004 – 15.00	Lecce	A	0-2
Oct 24, 2004 – 15.00	AS Roma	A	1-1
Oct 27, 2004 – 20.30	Livorno	H	1-2
Oct 31, 2004 – 20.30	Udinese	A	0-1
Nov 7, 2004 – 15.00	Parma	H	1-1
Nov 11, 2004 – 20.30	Messina	A	0-0
Nov 14, 2004 – 15.00	Sampdoria	H	2-0
Nov 28, 2004 – 15.00	Brescia	A	2-0
Dec 5, 2004 – 15.00	Atalanta	H	1-0
Dec 12, 2004 – 15.00	Chievo	A	1-2
Dec 19, 2004 – 20.30	Cagliari	H	3-0
Jan 6, 2005 – 15.00	Reggina	A	0-1
Jan 9, 2005 – 20.30	AC Milan	H	0-0
Jan 16, 2005 – 15.00	Lazio	A	3-1
Jan 23, 2005 – 15.00	Siena	A	0-0
Jan 30, 2005 – 20.30	Inter	H	0-2
Feb 2, 2005 – 20.30	Fiorentina	A	2-1
Feb 5, 2005 – 20.30	Juventus	H	1-0
Feb 13, 2005 – 15.00	Bologna	A	1-1
Feb 20, 2005 – 15.00	Lecce	H	3-2
Feb 27, 2005 – 15.00	AS Roma	H	2-0
Mar 6, 2005 – 20.30	Livorno	A	2-2
Mar 13, 2005 – 15.00	Udinese	H	1-5
Mar 20, 2005 – 15.00	Parma	A	3-3
Apr 10, 2005 – 15.00	Messina	H	2-1
Apr 16, 2005 – 20.30	Sampdoria	A	0-1
Apr 20, 2005 – 20.30	Brescia	H	3-3
Apr 24, 2005 – 15.00	Atalanta	A	0-1
May 1, 2005 – 20.30	Chievo	H	2-2
May 8, 2005 – 15.00	Cagliari	A	0-0
May 15, 2005 – 15.00	Reggina	H	1-1
May 20, 2005 – 20.30	AC Milan	A	3-3
May 29, 2005 – 15.00	Lazio	H	3-3

Coppa Italia

Date and time	Opponent team	Home/Away	Result
Sep 15, 2004 – 20.30	Salernitana	A	1-2
Sep 28, 2004 – 18.00	Salernitana	H	2-0
Nov 20, 2004 – 21.00	AC Milan	H	1-2
Jan 12, 2005 – 21.00	AC Milan	A	0-2