Associazione Calcio Cesena (Italian pronunciation: [tʃɛˈzeːna]) is an Italian football club based in Cesena, Romagna. The club was formed in 1940 and won the first promotion to Serie A in 1973. Since then, the club have been in the Italian Premier League for a total of in 11 seasons, reaching the best achievement in 1976 with the 6th position in Serie A and a short run in the UEFA Cup. The other three promotions in serie A have been achieved in 1981, 1987 and 2010, the last one after two consecutive promotion from the third league (Lega Pro) in 2009, and from Serie B in 2010, both won in the final game of the season. Currently the club is playing its 11th Serie A championship. The team's colours are white and black.
[edit] History
Founded in 1940, Cesena reached Serie B in 1968 and were promoted to Serie A for the first time in 1973. With players such as Pierluigi Cera and Gianluigi Savoldi, the club held its own and finished a respectable 11th place in their debut season, repeating that finish the following year. In 1975–76, Cesena surprised everybody by finishing 6th and qualifying for the UEFA Cup. The glory was short-lived and they would be relegated the next year.
A second promotion to Serie A followed in 1981 and finished a respectable 10th before being relegated once more in 1983, staying in Serie B for four years. After winning a play-off, they were back in Serie A for 1987–88 and enjoyed a four-year stay, being obdurate enough to just avoid relegation in this time.
After relegation in 1991, Cesena had another chance to return to Serie A in 1994. With players such as Alessandro Teodorani, Emiliano Salvetti, Luigi Piangerelli, Aldo Dolcetti and Dario Hübner, this was a team of considerable ability. However, they finished level on points with Padova, and lost a promotion play-off which would be a bitter blow for the club, who would suffer relegation to Serie C1 in 1997. Whilst promotion followed, a relegation play-off against Pistoiese in 2000 would see them condemned to a four-year stay in the third division.
In the 2005–06 Serie B league, Cesena surprisingly emerged as contenders for promotion to Serie A, ending in sixth place and being therefore qualified for the promotion playoffs. They escaped relegation the following season, but not in 2007–08.
Cesena first campaign in Serie C1, now rebranded Lega Pro Prima Divisione, started with former Foligno boss Pierpaolo Bisoli as new head coach. Throughout the season, Cesena quickly emerged as major contenders for direct promotion, and managed to take first place in the league on Week 33, with only one game remaining and a two-point advantage to challengers Pro Patria. On the final week of the season, Cesena's 0–0 draw with Verona, coupled with Pro Patria's 0–0 draw with Padova, gave the bianconeri the league title and direct promotion back to Serie B, after only one season in the Italian third tier.[1] Cesena went to as 3rd in Round 33 1 point behind Brescia in 2009–10 season. Cesena made second consecutive promotion after a 1–0 winning at Piacenza and Brescia's 2–1 loss at Padova against Padova on 30 May 2010 and finished 19 years of absence from Serie A after finishing Serie B as runner-up.
[edit] Current squad
- As of 31 January, 2012[2]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
[edit] Out on loan
Players aged 20 or under are considered to be Primavera (youth) squad players and should not be listed Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
[edit] Retired numbers
| No. |
Player |
Nationality |
Position |
Reason |
Ref |
| 12 |
Tifosi |
 Italy |
Not applicable |
Reserved for the Cesena supporters |
[3] |
| 21 |
Martelli, PaoloPaolo Martelli |
Italy |
Defender |
Posthumous recognition. Died in a car accident on 01999-04-12 12 April 1999 |
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[edit] Notable former players
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This list of "famous" or "notable" sporting persons has no clear inclusion or exclusion criteria. Please help to define clear inclusion criteria and edit the list to contain only subjects that fit that criteria. |
[edit] Achievements
- Promozione Regionale:
- Winners (2): 1952–53, 1956–57
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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| 2011–12 teams |
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| Former teams |
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Current season
Italy
