Are you fascinated by underdog stories in soccer? Discover the incredible journey of Benevento Football Club, from Italy’s third division to Serie A, a tale of ambition, community, and unwavering spirit. At CAUHOI2025.UK.COM, we delve into the heart of this remarkable rise, exploring the key factors that propelled them to success against all odds. Get ready to be inspired by the magic of “calcio” and the unwavering spirit of the Stregoni. Learn more about Italian soccer and underdog successes.
1. The Unbelievable Ascent of Benevento Calcio: A Modern Football Fairytale
Football is full of captivating stories, and the rise of Benevento Calcio is a true modern-day fairytale. Like Leicester City’s Premier League triumph or RB Leipzig’s unexpected Champions League qualification, Benevento’s journey from the depths of Italian football to the top tier, Serie A, is a testament to ambition, community, and unwavering belief. What exactly made their ascent so remarkable?
Benevento, a city with just over 60,000 residents in the Campania region, a mere 90 minutes from Naples, is home to a club with a history rooted in the lower leagues. Founded in 1929, Benevento, nicknamed the Stregoni (Witches) due to the city’s ancient association with Lombard pagan rituals, spent the majority of its existence in Serie C2 and Serie C1 (later renamed Lega Pro). Promotion from Lega Pro is notoriously difficult, with 60 teams divided into three regional groups.
2. From Bankruptcy to Serie A: Overcoming Adversity
The early 21st century brought hardship for Benevento, as their predecessor, Sporting Benevento, faced bankruptcy. However, in 2005, local businessmen Ciro and Oreste Vigorito stepped in, re-establishing the club as Benevento Calcio. At the time, the idea of this newly formed amateur club reaching Serie A within 12 years seemed far-fetched.
The Vigorito brothers invested in all areas of the club, both on and off the pitch. Their commitment to the Stregoni laid the foundation for their future success.
2.1 The Vigorito Brothers: Local Heroes
The Vigorito brothers’ dedication to the club and the city was unwavering. Their investment in infrastructure, youth development, and the first team created a positive environment for success.
2.2 The Loss of Ciro Vigorito
In 2010, tragedy struck when Ciro Vigorito passed away. Ciro was not only a part-owner but also the chief executive and head of the team’s youth academy. The city honored his memory by renaming their stadium, the Stadio Santa Colomba, to Stadio Ciro Vigorito. The connection between the fans, players, and Ciro’s memory became a powerful force.
3. Tactical Brilliance and Team Spirit: The Keys to Promotion
The 2015/16 season saw Oreste Vigorito step down as president, although he continued to provide financial support. This season marked a turning point, as manager Gaetano Auteri guided the club to Serie B promotion. Benevento won the Girone C group with an impressive 70 points, defeating Lecce 3-0 in front of 20,000 fans.
3.1 Gaetano Auteri’s Impact
Auteri’s tactical prowess and ability to instill a winning mentality were crucial to Benevento’s success. His leadership transformed a semi-professional club into a professional outfit capable of competing at a higher level.
3.2 Transitioning to Serie B
The transition to Serie B wasn’t easy, but Benevento defied the odds once again. Their passion and determination helped them overcome challenges and establish themselves in the second tier.
4. Ambition and Recruitment: Building a Competitive Squad
Despite the departure of Gaetano Auteri due to disagreements with Oreste Vigorito, Benevento appointed Marco Baroni as the new manager, who shared the owner’s ambition of promotion to Serie A.
Baroni’s arrival brought renewed optimism and a focus on building a squad capable of competing for promotion. No club had ever achieved promotion to Serie A on their first attempt, but Benevento aimed to make history.
4.1 Key Signings: Chibsah and Pușcaș
Baroni made key signings, including Sassuolo midfielder Raman Chibsah and Inter striker George Pușcaș on loan deals. These players added Serie A quality to the squad and proved instrumental in their promotion push.
- Raman Chibsah: A dynamic midfielder who provided defensive stability and attacking impetus.
- George Pușcaș: A talented striker who scored crucial goals, including the decisive goal in the playoff final.
Raman Chibsah Benevento
4.2 Fabio Ceravolo: The Prolific Striker
Fabio Ceravolo, who joined after finding his best form at Ternana, scored 21 crucial goals, transforming Benevento’s attack and making them a difficult team to play against.
4.3 Amato Ciciretti: The Creative Midfielder
Amato Ciciretti, a former Roma player, was their most influential midfielder, showcasing his technique and speed of play. His performances attracted interest from Serie A giants like Napoli.
5. The Road to Serie A: Playoff Success
Benevento finished the Serie B season in fifth place, securing a playoff spot. They navigated the playoffs with determination, defeating Spezia, Perugia, and Carpi to achieve promotion to Serie A.
5.1 Overcoming Challenges
The playoffs were a challenging test of Benevento’s resilience and team spirit. They faced tough opponents but never wavered in their belief.
5.2 The Playoff Final: A Moment of Glory
The playoff final against Carpi was a tense and dramatic affair. George Pușcaș’s goal sealed promotion and sparked celebrations in Benevento.
6. A Campania Derby Returns: The Impact on Southern Italy
Benevento’s promotion meant that they became only the fourth club from Campania to play in Serie A, joining Napoli, Salernitana, and Avellino. Their rise also meant the return of a Campania derby, a historic and passionate rivalry.
The last Campania derby in the top division was in the 1987/88 season when Napoli played Avellino. The first Serie A Campania derby between Napoli and Benevento was highly anticipated.
6.1 Napoli’s Dominance and Regional Aspirations
Napoli has been the most successful club in southern Italy, but Benevento’s rise fueled aspirations for greater competition and success in the region.
6.2 A Fascinating Derby
Despite sharing a region, Naples and Benevento have distinct lifestyles and dialects, adding intrigue to the derby. The hope was that the rivalry would be passionate and competitive, without violence.
Benevento fans celebrating promotion to Serie A
7. Ambitions and Challenges: Competing in Serie A
With promotion secured, Benevento set their sights on competing in Serie A and potentially challenging for European qualification.
7.1 Oreste Vigorito’s Vision
Oreste Vigorito expressed his ambition for the club, stating that they would strive to achieve their goals and compete at the highest level.
7.2 The Challenge Ahead
Competing in Serie A would be a significant challenge for Benevento, facing established clubs with greater resources and experience.
8. Calcio Folklore: A Lasting Legacy
Benevento’s promotion to Serie A will be remembered as one of the greatest underdog stories in Italian football history. Their journey from the third tier to the top flight in just 12 years is an inspiration to smaller clubs across the country.
Even Oreste Vigorito, the club’s savior, could not have imagined such a rapid rise. But Benevento proved that with ambition, dedication, and community support, anything is possible.
8.1 Passion and Never-Say-Die Attitude
Benevento’s passion and never-say-die attitude captivated fans and made them a team to watch. Their story reminded everyone of the magic of football and the power of dreams.
8.2 Inspiring a Community
The success of Benevento brought joy and pride to the city and the entire Campania region. It showed that even small communities can achieve great things with hard work and belief.
9. Benevento Football Club: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: When was Benevento Football Club founded?
Benevento Football Club was founded in 1929.
Q2: What is Benevento Football Club’s nickname?
The club’s nickname is Stregoni, which means “Witches.”
Q3: What is the capacity of Benevento’s stadium?
Benevento’s stadium, Stadio Ciro Vigorito, has a capacity of approximately 12,800.
Q4: How many times has Benevento been promoted to Serie A?
Benevento has been promoted to Serie A once, in 2017.
Q5: Which region of Italy is Benevento located in?
Benevento is located in the Campania region of Italy.
Q6: Who were the key players in Benevento’s promotion-winning season?
Key players included Raman Chibsah, George Pușcaș, Fabio Ceravolo, and Amato Ciciretti.
Q7: Who was the manager who led Benevento to Serie A promotion?
Marco Baroni was the manager who led Benevento to Serie A promotion.
Q8: How did Benevento secure promotion to Serie A?
Benevento secured promotion through the Serie B playoffs, defeating Spezia, Perugia, and Carpi.
Q9: What is the significance of Benevento’s promotion to Serie A for the Campania region?
It brought back the Campania derby between Napoli and Benevento, a historic and passionate rivalry.
Q10: What are some factors that contributed to Benevento’s success?
Key factors included strong leadership, tactical brilliance, key signings, and a passionate team spirit.
10. Ready to Discover More Inspiring Football Stories?
The story of Benevento Football Club is a testament to the power of dreams, ambition, and community spirit. Do you want to explore more inspiring stories from the world of sports and beyond? Visit CAUHOI2025.UK.COM today and unlock a wealth of knowledge and insights.
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