Italian Football League

History

The Italian football league was started by English emigrants in the 1890s. The first club was Genoa Cricket and Athletic Club (now Genoa 1893[?]). Initially there were separate leagues for Italians and foreigners, they merged around 1897. In March 1898, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) was set up in Torino. With four clubs joining - Genoa, FC Torinese, Internazionale di Torino and the Gymnastic Society of Torino. Other clubs existed but decided not to join. The first league took place on a single day, May 8, 1898 in Torino. The title was won by Genoa.

Genoa were the initial force in Italian football. They won the championship in 1899, 1900, 1902, 1903, and 1904. Following a split at the Gymnastic Society of Torino two clubs were formed - Milan FBC and FBC Juventus, they joined the league in 1900.

The league joined FIFA in 1905 and moved to a league structure, based on regions, in the same year. Other clubs joined the Federation, especially from north Italy. Pro Vercelli won the championship five times between 1908-1913.

Following the interruption of the WW I a new association was briefly created in competition with the FIGC, the Confederazione Calcistica Italiana (CCI). And in 1919 Italy had two champions US Pro Vercelli and US Novese. The two groups merged in 1922.

The move to a national league structure occurred in 1929 with initially eighteen teams in the top league. The first winners in 1930 were Internazionale. The national team also won the World Cup in 1934 and 1938.

After WW II the league returned to a regional structure with a north-south divide and a play-off for a single year before returing to a national league. Torino were the first post-war league champions and went on to win four in a row.

However it is Juventus, A.C. Milan and Internazionale that have dominated the league since World War II. Winning 54 titles between them.

Current League Structure

• Serie A
• Serie B
• Serie C1/A and C1/B
• Serie C2/A, C2/B and C2/C
• Serie D

Cup Competitions

• Coppa Italia
• SuperCoppa Italiana
• Coppa Italia Serie C
• Coppa Italia Serie D

Clubs

• A.S. Roma
• A.C. Torino
• Chievo Verona
• A.C. Milan
• Internazionale
• Bologna F.C. 1909
• Juventus
• Hellas Verona A.C.
• S.S. Lazio, Società Sportiva
• A.C. Fiorentina
• Parma A.C.
• Udinese Calcio
• Atalanta B.C.