Mantova 1911

Colours

Mantova played in a sky blue shirt with white shorts and sky blue socks until 1956, when OZO company became the club's main sponsor. Colours were changed from sky blue and white to white and red, the colours of the company, in an unusual scheme for Italian football: white with a red sash. Mantova debuted in Serie A with this kit.

In the late 1960s, when the club had poor results, a red shirt with white shorts and red socks was adopted as the home kit. The OZO Mantova kit was reintroduced by the owner Fabrizio Lori in the 2000s, and since then became the home kit.

In the last years the away kit has usually retained the home kit scheme, inverting the colours: a white sash on a red base.

Sky blue has been used mainly for third kits. During the 2010-11 campaign, a special sky blue shirt with a white and red sash was released to celebrate the club's 100th anniversary and was used as the first choice kit for the final part of the season.

During the Serie B years between 2005 and 2008 Mantova used a yellow kit with a green sash to remember the "Piccolo Brasile", the team who achieved three promotions in four years between the end of the 1950s and the start of the 1960s.

Badge

Mantova crest has always been characterized by two elements: the town's coat of arms and a light blue semicircle to remember the original colours of the team, combined in a round shape. The round element has been inserted in a red and white shield, with an upper white stripe in which the name of the club is written.

Mantova was founded in 1911. They played in Serie A for seven seasons: 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, and 1971–72, being nicknamed in its initial period as "Little Brazil" ("Piccolo Brasile"). The green and yellow shirt actually remembered that period, by far the best one in the team history. Mantova has also played eight seasons in Serie B, winning the title 1970–71.

Mantova was cancelled two times from the Italian football panorama, in 1983 and 1994, both times due to insolvency.

Former famous players for the club include Dino Zoff, Angelo Sormani, Anton Alleman and Karl-Heinz Schnellinger.

Mantova was promoted from Serie C2 to Serie B in two consecutive seasons, in 2003–04 as league champions, and in 2004–05 as runners-up and playoff winners. Mantova begun the 2005–06 Serie B campaign introducing itself as a strong potential candidate for promotion to Serie A, despite its lack of players experienced with these levels (almost the same squad which promoted to Serie B the previous season) and a coach, Domenico Di Carlo, on just his second year as first team football trainer. The team led the Serie B table for a long part of the season, gaining an unexpected interest by the media. However, Mantova was not able to maintain the head of the league in the end, and the team concluded its season in fourth place, gaining a spot in the promotion playoffs. Successively, AC Mantova won its playoff semifinal against Modena after two ties (0–0, 1–1), qualifying because of its top placement in the regular season. The first playoff final, against Torino, saw Mantova winning at home 4–2. However, Mantova was not able to maintain this advantage in the return match, lost 3–1 in Turin after extra time, which allowed Torino to be promoted in Serie A because of a superior placement in the regular season.

During the 2006–07 season, Mantova became the first club to beat Juventus in a Serie B match. They ended the season in eighth place, confirming themselves in the top side of the league table. Following Di Carlo's resignations, Mantova appointed Attilio Tesser as new head coach for their 2007–08 Serie B campaign. As part of an ambitious summer transfer market, on 23 August 2007 Mantova signed former Italian international Stefano Fiore. However, the club's campaign proved to be disappointing as the team failed to break into the promotion playoff zone, resulting in the sacking of Tesser in the mid-season. He was replaced by Giuseppe Brucato, a young manager with no previous experience in the league, who guided the club to a mid-table finish in the season.

Brucato was confirmed as head coach of Mantova for the 2008–09 season. As Fiore parted company with the club following an unimpressive season with the virgiliani, he was replaced by Tomas Locatelli. However, Mantova failed to assure themselves a place in the higher ranks of the league, causing the sacking of Brucato following a 1–3 home defeat to Parma. The club successively appointed former Milan defender Alessandro Costacurta as its new head coach. Costacurta later resigned and was replaced by Mario Somma, who led the club to a final 13th place, only two points ahead the relegation play-off zone.

For the 2009–10 season, Mantova was guided by former Italian international Michele Serena. The financial situation of the club was deteriorated, which the club raised the short term profit by player exchange, but also raised the long term amortisation cost. The club had swapped Stefano Mondini with Christian Jidayi on 30 June 2008 in co-ownership deal for €750,000, made the clubs had player selling revenue of €1.5 million. June 2009 also saw Jidayi return to Cesena and Mondini back to Mantova; 50% of both players' rights were valued at €750,000.^[1] However, it became a financial burden for both clubs, which Mantova had to amortise Mondini's value (€1.5 million) in instalments as amortisation. In June 2008 Mantova also swapped Valerio Di Cesare (€1M) and Simone Calori (€0.5M) with Riccardo Fissore (€0.5M) and Mattia Marchesetti (€1M).^[2] Again, Mantova had to amortise €0.5M in for 3 seasons for Fissore (€166,667) and Marchesetti (€333,333).

At the beginning of 2010–11 season, Mantova went bankrupt and a new entity was admitted to Serie D. Mantova came first in Girone B and gained promotion to 2011–12 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. They finished 16th and only escaped relegation after beating both Lecco and Vibonese in the playoffs. The first leg against Vibonese was a 0–0 stalemate away, leading to fears the club would not survive the second leg. However, Mantova went on to record a famous 4–0 victory. The home leg was viewed by over 3,000 spectators and Mantova enjoyed some of the strongest support of the 40 sides in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. Throughout the 2011–12 season, Mantova sacked three managers and three sporting directors.

In the 2012–13 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione, Mantova had a solid season, finishing in ninth place, nine points short of a promotion playoff place and 11 points above a relegation playoff place. In the off season, 70% of Mantova is sold to former Sambonifacese president Michele Lodi, who became the president of Mantova.

The Lega Pro Seconda Divisione underwent a reformatting. The first eight teams in each girone, plus one team winning the relegation playoff round from each division will remain in Lega Pro. The last six teams in each girone, plus three relegation play-out losers from each division will be relegated to Serie D. In all, eighteen teams will remain in Lega Pro, and eighteen teams will be relegated to Serie D.

In the 2013–14 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione, Mantova finished eighth, which guaranteed them a spot in next season's 2014–15 Lega Pro Divisione Unica, the new Serie C. The team was part of the "Group A". Mantova remained in the third tier until 2017. At the start of season, the club did not join the 2017–18 Serie C, a successor club, Mantova 1911 S.S.D.,^[3] was admitted to 2017–18 Serie D instead.^[4] In 2018 it was taken over by Maurizio Setti, the holder of Hellas Verona, who invested in the club to be promoted to Serie C. Mantova lost the championship to Como despite reaching 83 points, and it is now at its third consecutive season in Serie D.

Discover more about History related topics

1961–62 Serie A

1961–62 Serie A

The 1961–62 Serie A season was won by Milan.

1962–63 Serie A

1962–63 Serie A

The 1962–63 Serie A season was won by Internazionale.

1963–64 Serie A

1963–64 Serie A

The 1963–64 Serie A season was won by Bologna.

1964–65 Serie A

1964–65 Serie A

The 1964–65 Serie A season was won by Internazionale.

1966–67 Serie A

1966–67 Serie A

The 1966–67 Serie A season was won by Juventus, it was their second scudetto of the 1960s. The season was closely contested and went down to the final day of the season; Internazionale were left needing just a draw or having Juventus not beat Lazio to win the title. However, Inter lost 1–0 on the final day to Mantova thanks to a goal from one of their former players, Beniamino Di Giacomo. Juventus on the other hand beat Lazio 2–1 to take their 13th title.

1967–68 Serie A

1967–68 Serie A

The 1967–68 Serie A season was won by Milan.

1971–72 Serie A

1971–72 Serie A

The 1971–72 Serie A season was won by Juventus.

1970–71 Serie B

1970–71 Serie B

The Serie B 1970–71 was the thirty-ninth tournament of this competition played in Italy since its creation.

Dino Zoff

Dino Zoff

Dino Zoff is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is the oldest ever winner of the World Cup, which he earned as captain of the Italy national team in the 1982 tournament, at the age of 40 years, 4 months and 13 days. He also won the award for best goalkeeper of the tournament and was elected to the team of the tournament for his performances, keeping two clean-sheets, an honour he also received after winning the 1968 European Championship on home soil. Zoff is the only Italian player to have won both the World Cup and the European Championship. He also achieved great club success with Juventus, winning six Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia titles, and a UEFA Cup, also reaching two European Champions' Cup finals in the 1972–73 and 1982–83 seasons, as well as finishing second in the 1973 Intercontinental Cup final.

Angelo Sormani

Angelo Sormani

Angelo Benedicto Miguel Sormani is a former football manager and player, who played as a forward; he was capable of playing anywhere along the front-line, as a centre-forward, as well as in an attacking midfield role, or also as a winger on the right flank. Born in Brazil, he represented the Italy national team at the 1962 FIFA World Cup. While lacking pace, he was a physically strong, creative and intelligent player with excellent technical ability; throughout his career, he was known for his tactical versatility, power and determination, as well as his capability to take part in and initiate attacking plays due to his passing ability. Following his retirement, he also worked as a manager, coaching two clubs for which he formerly played: Roma, and Napoli.

2005–06 Serie B

2005–06 Serie B

The 2005–06 Serie B is the 74th season since its establishment in 1929. It is the second highest football league in Italy.

Domenico Di Carlo

Domenico Di Carlo

Domenico "Mimmo" Di Carlo is an Italian football coach and a former player, last in charge of Pordenone.

As of 31 January 2023.^[5] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  ITA Niccolò Chiorra (on loan from Empoli) 2 DF  ITA Matteo Pinton 3 DF  ITA Andrea Ceresoli (on loan from Atalanta) 4 DF  ITA Emanuele Matteucci 5 DF  ITA Daniele Ghilardi (on loan from Hellas Verona) 6 DF  ITA Luca Iotti 7 MF  ITA Christian Pierobon (on loan from Hellas Verona) 8 FW  ITA Andrea Procaccio 9 FW  ITA Davis Mensah 10 MF  ITA Filippo Guccione 11 MF  ITA Matteo Gerbaudo 12 GK  ITA Matteo Malaguti 14 MF  ITA Bruno Conti (on loan from Hellas Verona) 15 MF  ITA Alberto De Francesco 16 GK  ITA Mattia Chiesa (on loan from Hellas Verona)

No. Pos. Nation Player 19 FW  ITA Ludovico D'Orazio (on loan from SPAL) 20 MF  MAR Yassine Ejjaki (on loan from Reggina) 21 MF  ITA Alex Pedone (on loan from Sangiuliano) 22 GK  ITA Riccardo Tosi 23 DF  ITA Erik Panizzi 24 FW  ITA Riccardo Bocalon 26 MF  ITA Nicolò Fazzi 27 MF  ITA Manuel Fontana 29 MF  ITA Pietro Messori 30 DF  ITA Darrel Agbugui 45 FW  ITA Gaetano Monachello 67 MF  ITA Vincenzo Silvestro 88 DF  ITA Emanuele Padella 91 FW  ESP Alejandro Rodríguez 99 FW  GHA Philip Yeboah (on loan from Hellas Verona)

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW  ITA Luca Paudice (at Recanatese until 30 June 2023)

Discover more about Current squad related topics

FIFA eligibility rules

FIFA eligibility rules

As the governing body of association football, FIFA is responsible for maintaining and implementing the rules that determine whether an association football player is eligible to represent a particular country in officially recognised international competitions and friendly matches. In the 20th century, FIFA allowed a player to represent any national team, as long as the player held citizenship of that country. In 2004, in reaction to the growing trend towards naturalisation of foreign players in some countries, FIFA implemented a significant new ruling that requires a player to demonstrate a "clear connection" to any country they wish to represent. FIFA has used its authority to overturn results of competitive international matches that feature ineligible players.

Goalkeeper (association football)

Goalkeeper (association football)

The goalkeeper is a position in association football. It is the most specialised position in the sport. The goalkeeper's main role is to stop the opposing team from scoring. This is accomplished by having the goalkeeper move into the trajectory of the ball to either catch it or direct it further from the vicinity of the goal line. Within the penalty area goalkeepers are allowed to use their hands, giving them the sole rights on the field to handle the ball. The goalkeeper is indicated by wearing a different coloured kit from their teammates and opposition.

Italian Football Federation

Italian Football Federation

The Italian Football Federation, known colloquially as Federcalcio, is the governing body of football in Italy. It is based in Rome and the technical department is in Coverciano, Florence.

Empoli F.C.

Empoli F.C.

Empoli Football Club, commonly referred to as Empoli, is an Italian football club based in Empoli, Metropolitan City of Florence. Founded in 1920, the side is part of a select group of Italian football clubs that do not belong to a provincial capital city that have participated in the top-flight.

Defender (association football)

Defender (association football)

In the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield position whose primary role is to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposition from scoring.

Matteo Pinton

Matteo Pinton

Matteo Pinton is an Italian footballer who plays as a defender for Serie C Group A club Mantova.

Atalanta B.C.

Atalanta B.C.

Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly referred to as Atalanta, is a professional football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy. The club plays in Serie A, having gained promotion from Serie B in 2010–11.

Emanuele Matteucci

Emanuele Matteucci

Emanuele Matteucci is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a centre back.

Hellas Verona F.C.

Hellas Verona F.C.

Hellas Verona Football Club, commonly referred to as Hellas Verona or simply Verona, is a professional Italian football club based in Verona, Italy, that currently plays in Serie A. The team won the Serie A Championship in the 1984–85 season.

Luca Iotti

Luca Iotti

Luca Iotti is an Italian footballer who plays as a defender for Serie C Group A club Mantova.

Midfielder

Midfielder

A midfielder is an outfield position in association football. Midfielders may play an exclusively right back role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. As central midfielders often go across boundaries, with mobility and passing ability, they are often referred to as deep-lying midfielders, play-makers, box-to-box midfielders, or holding midfielders. There are also attacking midfielders with limited defensive assignments.

• Ottavio Bianchi
• Roberto Boninsegna
• Mario Corso
• Alessandro Costacurta
• Edmondo Fabbri
• Nándor Hidegkuti

Discover more about Notable former coaches related topics

Ottavio Bianchi

Ottavio Bianchi

Ottavio Bianchi is an Italian former football player and coach who played as a midfielder.

Roberto Boninsegna

Roberto Boninsegna

Roberto Boninsegna is an Italian former football player, who mainly played as a forward. After retiring, he worked as a football manager. As a player, he represented the Italy national side at two World Cups, reaching the final in 1970.

Mario Corso

Mario Corso

Mario Corso was an Italian football player and coach. A famed and dynamic left winger, he was regarded as one of the greatest Italian players in his position, earning the nicknames "Mandrake" and "God's Left Foot", due to his skills, free kick technique and crossing ability.

Alessandro Costacurta

Alessandro Costacurta

Alessandro Costacurta is an Italian football pundit, manager and a former professional defender who usually played as a centre back.

Edmondo Fabbri

Edmondo Fabbri

Edmondo Fabbri was an Italian football player and coach; a fast player, he mainly played as a winger.

Nándor Hidegkuti

Nándor Hidegkuti

Nándor Hidegkuti was a Hungarian football player and manager. He played as a forward or attacking midfielder and spent the majority of his playing career at MTK Hungária FC. During the 1950s he was also a key member of the Hungarian National Team team known as the Golden Team. Other members of the team included Ferenc Puskás, Zoltán Czibor, Sándor Kocsis and József Bozsik. In 1953, playing as a deep lying centre-forward, a position which has retroactively been compared to the modern false 9 role, he scored a hat-trick for Hungary when they beat England 6–3 at Wembley Stadium. Playing from deep, Hidegkuti was able to distribute the ball to the other attackers and cause considerable confusion to defences. This was an innovation at the time and revolutionised the way the game was played.

• Serie B Championship: 1
• Serie C Championship: 1
• Serie C2 Championships: 3