US Pistoiese 1921

Pistoiese

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Full name	Unione Sportiva Pistoiese 1921 Srl
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	Alessandro Birindelli
League	Serie D/D
2010-11	Eccellenza Tuscany A, 1st (promoted)
Home colours Away colours

Unione Sportiva Pistoiese 1921 is an Italian association football club, based in Pistoia, Tuscany. At the end of the 2010-11 Eccellenza season, Pistoiese was promoted in Serie D.

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.

Serie A

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 in Serie D.

Colors and badge

The team's colors are orange and blue.

Squads 2010-11

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

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	GK	ITA	Alessandro Flauto
—	GK	ITA	Francesco Stiavelli
—	GK	ITA	Marco Pampaloni
—	DF	ITA	Tiziano Di Nunzio
—	DF	ITA	Alberto Elmi
—	DF	ITA	Francesco Calanchi
—	DF	ITA	Gabriele Gemignani
—	DF	ITA	Stefano Strufaldi
—	DF	ITA	Luca Frosini
—	DF	ITA	Lorenzo Spadoni
—	DF	ITA	Iacopo Marchetti
—	DF	ITA	Nicola Carlo Pagani

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	ITA	Leonardo Paolicchi
—	MF	ITA	Federico Mennini Righini
—	MF	ITA	Matteo Allori
—	MF	ITA	Matteo Balleri
—	MF	ITA	Alessandro Aricca
—	MF	ITA	Tommaso Manfredi
—	MF	ITA	Tommaso Pieroni
—	MF	ITA	Alessandro Romeo
—	FW	ITA	Francesco Fedi
—	FW	ITA	Matteo Marrani
—	FW	ITA	Giovanni Lisi
—	FW	ITA	Stefano Stefanelli
—	FW	ITA	Alessio Sabatini

Former players

• Francesco Baiano
• Mauro Bellugi
• Paolo Benedetti
• Sergio Borgo
• Sergio Brio
• Vito Chimenti
• Mario Frustalupi
• Francesco Guidolin
• Nicola Legrottaglie
• Marcello Lippi
• Lido Vieri

Former managers

• Edmondo Fabbri
• Marcello Lippi

External links

• Official site