2003–04 US Città di Palermo season

U.S. Città di Palermo
2003-04 season
President	Maurizio Zamparini
Manager	Silvio Baldini; Francesco Guidolin
Serie B	1º (promoted to Serie A)
Coppa Italia	Eightfinals
Top goalscorer	League: Luca Toni (30); All: Toni (30)
	← 2002-03 2004-05 →

U.S. Città di Palermo played the season 2003-04 in the Serie B league and Coppa Italia.

Summary

Ambitious Palermo, for the first time since 1973, failed to gain promotion to Serie A in the previous season following a 3-0 away defeat in the final match against Lecce, which were promoted at Palermo's place.^[2] That dramatic defeat was also the last appearance in his playing career for team captain Antonino Asta, who seriously injured during the match and did not manage to recover; he was part of the first team squad in the season 2003-04, without however making a single appearance. Following the events, Palermo made a number of prominent signings in the summer market, such as Eugenio Corini, Andrea Gasbarroni and Luca Toni;^[3] in addition, Palermo-born star Gaetano Vasari agreed to join the rosanero with a salary based on the number of appearances he would have made in the season. Silvio Baldini was appointed as new boss to replace Nedo Sonetti. Several football pundits suggested Palermo to be the real favourite team to win the Serie B league because of the quality of its roster.

The team made a very impressive start by defeating Gianfranco Zola's Cagliari Calcio, and managed to be always in the promotion spots. However, following a surprising 3-1 home defeat to Salernitana that brought Palermo down to third place, Baldini heavily criticized club chairman Maurizio Zamparini^[4] who consequently fired him and appointed Francesco Guidolin at his place. On the last day of the January transfer market, three new notable signings were made: Antonio Filippini, Emanuele Filippini and Fabio Grosso. Palermo later returned to top the table and eventually won the league, ending with the same points than Cagliari, but being crowned as Serie B champions due to head-to-head matches and promoted to Serie A after 31 years in the lower divisions.

Squad

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	Gianluca Berti
2	DF	ITA	Paolo Cotroneo
3	DF	ITA	Francesco Modesto^[5]
4	DF	ITA	Gianluca Atzori
5	MF	ITA	Eugenio Corini
6	DF	ITA	Christian Terlizzi
7	MF	ITA	Gaetano Vasari
8	MF	ITA	Daniele Di Donato
9	FW	ITA	Luca Toni
10	MF	ITA	Lamberto Zauli
11	MF	ITA	Salvatore Masiello
12	GK	ITA	Nicola Santoni
13	DF	ITA	Pietro Accardi
14	MF	CMR	Frank Oliver Ongfiang^[6]
14	DF	ITA	Rocco D'Aiello
16	FW	ITA	Pietro Balistreri
17	FW	ITA	Antonino Asta
18	FW	ITA	Franco Brienza^[7]
18	DF	ITA	Fabio Grosso^[8]
19	DF	ITA	Daniele Zito


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
20	FW	ITA	Simone Pepe
21	MF	ROU	Paul Codrea^[9]
21	DF	ITA	Giuseppe Biava^[10]
22	MF	ITA	Massimo Mutarelli
23	MF	ITA	Ighli Vannucchi^[11]
23	MF	ITA	Emanuele Filippini^[12]
24	FW	NGA	John Olufemi
25	DF	SLE	Kewullay Conteh
26	MF	ITA	Antonio Filippini^[13]
27	MF	ITA	Michele Trionfante
29	DF	ROU	Valentin Năstase
30	FW	BRA	Jeda^[14]
32	MF	ITA	Marco Fina
46	MF	ITA	Andrea Gasbarroni
51	MF	ITA	Vincenzo Giannusa
79	MF	ITA	Evans Soligo
81	DF	ITA	Michele Ferri
82	MF	ITA	Nicola Milano
84	GK	ITA	Paolo Comi

Transfers

In
Pos.	Name	from	Type
GK	Gianluca Berti	Empoli
GK	Paolo Comi	Monza
DF	Michele Ferri	A.C. Milan
DF	Gianluca Atzori	Empoli
DF	Christian Terlizzi	Cesena
MF	Evans Soligo	Venezia
MF	Ighli Vannucchi	Empoli
MF	Andrea Gasbarroni	Juventus
MF	Eugenio Corini	Chievo Verona
MF	Gaetano Vasari	Cesena
FW	Simone Pepe	A.S. Roma
FW	Franco Brienza	Ascoli	loan ended
FW	Luca Toni	Brescia Calcio

Out
Pos.	Name	To	Type
GK	Vincenzo Sicignano	Parma
DF	Alessandro Lucarelli	Fiorentina
DF	Oscar Brevi	Ascoli
DF	Matteo Pivotto	Modena
DF	Leandro Rinaudo	Salernitana	loan
MF	Valentino Lai	Salernitana	loan
MF	Manolo Pestrin	Cesena
MF	Frank Oliver Ongfiang	Cesena
FW	Filippo Maniero	Brescia Calcio
FW	Cristian La Grottería	Padova

Winter

In

18	DF	ITA	Fabio Grosso (from Perugia)
21	DF	ITA	Giuseppe Biava (from AlbinoLeffe)
23	MF	ITA	Emanuele Filippini (from Parma)
26	MF	ITA	Antonio Filippini (from Brescia)
30	FW	BRA	Jeda (from Vicenza)

Out

3	DF	ITA	Francesco Modesto (to Reggina)
18	MF	ITA	Franco Brienza (on loan to Perugia)
21	MF	ROU	Paul Codrea (on loan to Perugia)
23	MF	ITA	Ighli Vannucchi (to Empoli)

Competitions

Serie B

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Palermo (P, C)	46	22	17	7	75	39	+36	83	Promotion to Serie A
2	Cagliari (P)	46	23	14	9	80	51	+29	83
3	Livorno (P)	46	20	19	7	75	45	+30	79
4	Messina (P)	46	21	16	9	71	45	+26	79
5	Atalanta (P)	46	19	20	7	59	36	+23	77

Source: Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004, Panini Edizioni, Modena, September 2005
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Matches

23 September 2003	Salernitana	1-1	Palermo
	Tulli 49'		94' Gasbarroni

8 October 2003	Palermo	1-1	Piacenza
	Toni 64'		90' Beghetto

11 September 2003

Avellino

0-0

Palermo

14 September 2003	Palermo	1-0	Cagliari
	Corini 53' (rig.)

20 September 2003	Palermo	2-1	Ternana
	Brienza 14' Mutarelli 83'		92' Kharja

27 September 2003	Torino	2-1	Palermo
	Ferrante 24' (rig.), 43'		59' (rig.) Corini

4 October 2003	Palermo	2-1	Pescara
	Corini 11' (rig.) Pepe 85'		55' (aut.) Di Donato

12 October 2003	Como	0-1	Palermo
			57' (pen) Corini

15 October 2003	Palermo	2-0	Fiorentina
	Corini 29' (rig.) Di Donato 33'

18 October 2003	Venezia	1-1	Palermo
	Liendo 77'		94' Toni

25 October 2003	Ascoli	1-2	Palermo
	Bonfiglio 29'		28' Toni 56' Mutarelli

2 November 2003

Palermo

0-0

Atalanta

9 November 2003	Catania	0-2	Palermo
			7' (pen) Corini 65' Zauli

16 November 2003	Palermo	4-0	Napoli
	Ferri 27' Toni 37', 60' Zauli 48'

20 November 2003	Treviso	1-1	Palermo
	Centurioni 50'		92' Corini

23 November 2003	Palermo	3-1	Verona
	Toni 27', 52', 72'		23' Papa Waigo

28 November 2003	Genoa	1-1	Palermo
	Colacone 56'		79' Corini

7 December 2003	Palermo	2-1	Albinoleffe
	Toni 14' Di Donato 39'		30' Biava

14 December 2003

Vicenza

0-0

Palermo

21 December 2003

Palermo

0-0

Messina

6 January 2004	Triestina	1-0	Palermo
	Moscardelli 82'

11 January 2004	Palermo	4-1	Livorno
	Zauli 22', 71' Toni 49', 84'		48' C.Lucarelli

18 January 2004	Bari	2-1	Palermo
	Cordova 29' (rig.) De Rosa 41'		35' Corini

	Palermo	0-2	Salernitana
			59', 84' Bogdani

	Piacenza	2-2	Palermo
	Lucenti 42' Beghetto 89'		49' Toni 81' Nastase

	Palermo	1-1	Avellino
	Toni 42'		70' Stroppa

	Cagliari	3-2	Palermo
	Abeijon 42' E.Filippini 79' (aut.) Langella 87'		49', 67' Gasbarroni

	Ternana	1-1	Palermo
	Zampagna 41'		8' Toni

	Palermo	2-1	Torino
	Gasbarroni 39' Jeda 40'		8' Tiribocchi

	Pescara	0-2	Palermo
			5' Toni 77' Jeda

	Palermo	2-1	Como
	Toni 71' Corini 89' (rig.)		83' De Francesco

32	Fiorentina	2-1	Palermo
	Di Livio 34' Vryzas 92'		20' Toni

	Palermo	4-0	Venezia
	Toni 20', 82' E.Filippini 39' Gasbarroni 61'

	Palermo	1-0	Ascoli
	Corini 50' (rig.)

Atalanta

0-0

Palermo

	Palermo	5-0	Catania
	A.Filippini 7' Biava 30' Toni 57', 73' (rig.) E.Filippini 70'

	Napoli	1-1	Palermo
	Dionigi 28'		40' A.Filippini

	Palermo	2-3	Treviso
	Corini 31' (rig.) Jeda 43'		19' A.D'Agostino 61' Bianco 81' Ganci

	Verona	1-2	Palermo
	Adailton 11'		28', 88' Toni

	Palermo	3-1	Genoa
	Toni 5', 52' E.Filippini 44'		72' Milito

	Albinoleffe	1-1	Palermo
	Raimondi 81'		59' Biava

	Palermo	3-0	Vicenza
	Gasbarroni 10' Toni 25' Di Donato 65'

	Messina	1-1	Palermo
	Sosa 80'		75' Biava

	Palermo	3-1	Triestina
	Toni 31', 41' E.Filippini 83'		63' Mantovani

	Livorno	1-1	Palermo
	C.Lucarelli 71'		69' Toni

	Palermo	3-0	Bari
	Toni 31' Grosso 45+1' Vasari 89'

Statistics

Players statistics

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Serie B		Coppa Italia
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	ITA	Gianluca Berti	43	-35	42	-35	1	0
12	GK	ITA	Nicola Santoni	8	-10	4	-4	4	-6
84	GK	ITA	Paolo Comi	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	DF	ITA	Gianluca Atzori	18	0	17	0	1	0
6	DF	ITA	Christian Terlizzi	15	0	12	0	3	0
13	DF	ITA	Pietro Accardi	35	0	32	0	3	0
18	DF	ITA	Fabio Grosso	21	1	21	1	0	0
21	DF	ITA	Giuseppe Biava	19	3	19	3	0	0
25	DF	SLE	Kewullay Conteh	34	0	32	0	2	0
29	DF	ROU	Valentin Năstase	19	1	16	1	3	0
81	DF	ITA	Michele Ferri	39	2	36	1	3	1
5	MF	ITA	Eugenio Corini	43	12	40	12	3	0
7	MF	ITA	Gaetano Vasari	30	2	26	1	4	1
8	MF	ITA	Daniele Di Donato	39	3	39	3	0	0
10	MF	ITA	Lamberto Zauli	24	4	21	4	3	0
11	MF	ITA	Salvatore Masiello	22	0	18	0	4	0
17	MF	ITA	Antonino Asta	0	0	0	0	0	0
22	MF	ITA	Massimo Mutarelli	44	2	41	2	3	0
23	MF	ITA	Emanuele Filippini	20	4	20	4	0	0
26	MF	ITA	Antonio Filippini	21	2	21	2	0	0
46	MF	ITA	Andrea Gasbarroni	41	6	39	6	2	0
79	MF	ITA	Evans Soligo	13	1	9	0	4	1
82	MF	ITA	Nicola Milano	1	0	0	0	1	0
9	FW	ITA	Luca Toni	47	30	45	30	2	0
20	FW	ITA	Simone Pepe	24	3	19	1	5	2
24	FW	NGA	John Otuagomah Olufemi	1	0	0	0	1	0
30	FW	BRA	Jeda	17	3	17	3	0	0

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

References

^ (Until round 24).
^ "Season 2002-03 Palermo" (in Italian). ilpalermocalcio.it. Archived from the original on 2008-09-14.
^ "The last night of Toni" (in Italian). gazzetta.it.
^ "Zamparini Interview" (in Italian). raisport.it. Archived from the original on 2007-11-16.
^ loaned out on Winter.
^ Loaned out.
^ Loaned out
^ Transferred In on Winter
^ Loaned out.
^ Transferred In
^ Loaned out.
^ Transferred In on Winter
^ Transferred In on Winter
^ Transferred In on Winter
^ ^a ^b I primi due turni di campionato, in calendario per il 23 agosto e 7 settembre, furono rinviati per la protesta contro l'allargamento della Serie B a 24 squadre.

[1] (Until round 24).

[2] "Season 2002-03 Palermo" (in Italian). ilpalermocalcio.it. Archived from the original on 2008-09-14.

[3] "The last night of Toni" (in Italian). gazzetta.it.

[4] "Zamparini Interview" (in Italian). raisport.it. Archived from the original on 2007-11-16.

[5] ut on Winter.

[6] Loaned out.

[7] Loaned out

[8] Transferred In on Winter

[9] Loaned out.

[10] Transferred In

[11] Loaned out.

[12] Transferred In on Winter

[13] Transferred In on Winter

[14] Transferred In on Winter

[protesta-15] I primi due turni di campionato, in calendario per il 23 agosto e 7 settembre, furono rinviati per la protesta contro l'allargamento della Serie B a 24 squadre.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

v t e Palermo Football Club
General	Overview History Players Managers Seasons
Venues	Stadio Renzo Barbera Velodromo Paolo Borsellino
Other	Derby di Sicilia Derby delle Due Sicilie Derby delle Isole
Notable matches	1974 Coppa Italia Final 1979 Coppa Italia Final 2011 Coppa Italia Final