U.S. Pistoiese 1921
Full name | Unione Sportiva Pistoiese 1921 s.r.l. | ||
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Nickname(s) | Arancioni (Orange) | ||
Founded |
1921 1937 (refounded) 1945 (refounded) 1988 (refounded) 2009 (refounded) | ||
Ground |
Stadio Marcello Melani, Pistoia, Italy | ||
Capacity | 13,195 | ||
Chairman | Andrea Bonechi | ||
Manager | Cristiano Lucarelli | ||
League | Lega Pro/B | ||
2014-15 | Lega Pro/B, 15th | ||
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Unione Sportiva Pistoiese 1921 is an Italian association football club, based in Pistoia, Tuscany. Currently Pistoiese plays in Lega Pro.
The singer-songwriter Francesco Guccini is probably the most famous tifoso of Pistoiese in Italy.
History
The club was founded in 1921 and refounded in 1937, 1945, 1988 and 2009; having last been in Serie A in 1981.
U.S. Pistoiese
Pistoiese achieved prominence by rising to Serie B in the late 1970s with promotion to Serie A following in 1980. Under Marcello Melani Presidency, who choose veterans like Marcello Lippi and Mario Frustalupi and promising young talents such as Paolo Benedetti, Pistoiese reached in just 6 years the Serie A and made a reasonable start reaching as high as 4th after a win at Fiorentina at Round 13. But a dismal freefall resulted in last place in relegation, and the club have not recovered since apart from spells in Serie B in 1995–96 and 1999–2002. Melani left his direction in 1980 followed by Lippi in 1981.
A.C. Nuova Pistoiese 1988
In the 2005–06 Serie C1/B campaign, Pistoiese battled against relegation from Serie C1 with goals proving hard to come by, yet having one of the best defensive records in the division. A good season ending brought the team to a good 9th place in Group A, but just three points ahead the relegation playouts. Pistoiese finished 14th in Group B in 2007–2008 season and played relegation play-off against Sangiovannese. They won by 4–0 aggregate and remained in Lega Pro Prima Divisione (former Serie C1).
The Tuscan club started the 2008–09 season with Roberto Miggiano as head coach, but disappointing results and a bottom-place in the Lega Pro Prima Divisione table led the club to replace him with Salvatore Polverino later in October. However, results did not improve under new boss Polverino, prompting him to tend his resignations on February 2009. He was replaced by former Juventus star Moreno Torricelli, in his first personal stint as professional head coach; under Torricelli's reign, Pistoiese managed to improve results and escape immediate relegation ending in 16th place. Nevertheless, Pistoiese lost play-out against Foligno and got relegated in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.
On Summer 2009 Pistoiese is not permitted enrolment in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione due to inadequate financial guarantees.
Unione Sportiva Pistoiese 1921
On August 13, 2009 Unione Sportiva Pistoiese 1921 is created by Pistoia's maire Berti. The club is admitted to Tuscany's Eccellenza league and managed an excellent maiden year, reaching the promotion's play-off, where eventually lost against Mosciano.
In the season 2010-11 it wins Eccellenza Tuscany group A and is thus promoted to Serie D. Pistoiese managed to reacquire professional status after winning the Girone E of 2013–14 Serie D and thus ensuring a spot in the 2014–15 Lega Pro.
Colors and badge
The team's colors are orange and blue.
Former players
- Massimiliano Allegri
- Francesco Baiano
- Mauro Bellugi
- Paolo Benedetti
- Sergio Borgo
- Sergio Brio
- Vito Chimenti
- Mario Frustalupi
- Francesco Guidolin
- Adrian Madaschi
- Nicola Legrottaglie
- Marcello Lippi
- Lido Vieri
- Andrea Barzagli
Former managers
External links
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