Serie B
 | |
| Founded | 1929 2010 (Lega Serie B) |
|---|---|
| Country | Italy |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Number of teams | 22 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | Serie A |
| Relegation to | Divisione Unica (Serie C) |
| Domestic cup(s) | Coppa Italia |
| Current champions | Palermo (2013–14) |
| Most championships | Genoa (6 titles) |
| TV partners | SKY[1] Mediaset Premium[2] Gol TV and beIN Sports (Latin América) SporTV and SKY (Brazil) Comcast Sports Net (United States) BT Sport (United Kingdom) Canal+ Fútbol (Spain) Sport TV (Portugal) |
| Website | legaserieb.it |
| Current: 2014–15 Serie B | |
Serie B, currently named Serie B Eurobet[3] due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the Serie A and Serie B. Common nicknames for the league are campionato cadetto and cadetteria, as cadetto is the Italian for junior or cadet.
Serie B was composed of 20 teams until the 2002–03 season. It was enlarged to 24 teams for the 2003–04 season due to legal problems relating to Calcio Catania relegation. The league reverted to 22 teams for the 2004–05 season, while Serie A expanded from 18 to 20 teams.
During the regular season, each team plays 42 games – two games against every opponent. In Italian football, a true round-robin format is used. In the first half of the season, called andata, each team plays once against all its opponents, a total of 21 games. In the second half of the season, called ritorno, each team will play the same teams in exactly the same order, the only difference being that a home game played in the first half will be an away game with that same team in the second half, and vice versa.
Since the 2006–07 season, the Serie B champion is awarded the cup Ali della Vittoria (Wings of Victory). The trophy is 63 cm high and weighs 5 kg. Its structure represents the wings of the goddess Nike, the goddess of victory, holding a cup similar to an olympic flame.
Serie B matches are usually played on Saturday. After one year where all games were played on Saturday, the league is again scheduling one game that is played on Friday called anticipo (the advanced game) and one game that is played on Monday called posticipo (the post-dated game). The league also plays on several Tuesdays to fit in all 42 games. The league also plays on Sunday if Serie A is off.
Promotion and relegation
At the end of the season, three teams are promoted to Serie A and four teams are relegated to the reformed Serie C (formerly Lega Pro Prima Divisione). The top two teams are automatically promoted. If the 3rd-placed team is 9 or more points ahead of the 4th-placed team, it too is automatically promoted, otherwise a playoff tournament determines the third team that will be promoted. Starting in the 2013–14 season, anywhere between two and six teams within a "playoff margin" of 14 points from the 3rd-placed team will enter the playoff tournament. Under the new playoff format, up to three rounds may be required. The final two rounds are two-legged ties, while opening round matches (if required) are single legs hosted by the higher-ranked team. If a tie is drawn at the end of regular play (one or two matches, depending on the round), extra time is played. If the two teams are still tied after thirty minutes, the higher classified team advances.
In the relegation zone, the three last-placed teams (20th, 21st and 22nd) are automatically demoted to Serie C. If the 18th-placed team is 5 or more points ahead of the 19th-placed team, then the 19th-placed team becomes the 4th and final team to be demoted, otherwise the conditions for a playoff more commonly called playout exist.
If the playout is necessary, the 18th and 19th-placed teams are paired in a two-legged series with home-field advantage in the 2nd leg going to the 18th-placed team. The team with the higher aggregate score remains in Serie B while the loser becomes the fourth team relegated to Serie C. If an aggregate tie exists at the end of regulation play of the 2nd leg, the 18th-placed team is saved, and the 19th-placed team is demoted.
Brief history
A junior football championship was created at first in Italy in 1904, after seven editions of the major tournament of FIGC: it was called Second Category, and was composed both by senior squads of town clubs and by youth teams of city clubs. If the first ones won the championship, they would be promoted to First Category, which consequentely improved in size: the first team to reach the honour, was Pro Vercelli in 1907, which even won the scudetto in 1908. FIGC attempted many times to introduce relegations on the contrary, but the reform was really adopted only in 1921 by the secessionist CCI in its Northern League, which consisted of a First Division and a Second Division: the first teams to be relegated were AC Vicenza and FC Inter even if, after the reunion with FIGC, the regulations were changed, and Venezia was demoted instead of the Milanese club. Even if part of the same league, differently from First Division, Second Division was based on local group with proximity criteria. Only in 1928, the big reform was conceived by FIGC's President Leandro Arpinati: after a year, a new second division based on the same national format of the major tournament would be born. Serie B began in 1929 with 18 clubs and continued until WWII after whom it was divided again between the northern and the southern part of the country, due to the destructions of the war. The championship became national again in 1948, and for many years in the second half of the 20th century, it was played by 20 clubs. In 2003–04 a single group of 24 teams was formed, the biggest in the history of all levels of the Italian championship. After 2004, a 22-teams format was introduced together with playoffs.
After Serie A split with Serie B to form Lega Serie A, Lega Serie B was formed on 7 July 2010. The league signed a new sponsor bwin for 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasons; changed the league name from Serie B TIM in the last season to Serie bwin.[4]
Serie B is the lowest division where five clubs have ever played: Torino, Juventus, Milan, Roma and Lazio.
Club Performances
Promotions by season
- Italics denotes teams promoted after playoff or qualification match.
- Parentheses denote teams not promoted.
Performance by club
Updated at the end of 2013–14 season
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genoa | 6 | 1 | 1935, 1953, 1962, 1973, 1976, 1989 |
| Palermo | 5 | 2 | 1932, 1948, 1968, 2004, 2014 |
| Atalanta | 5 | 3 | 1940, 1959, 1984, 2006, 2011 |
| Bari | 4 | 6 | 1935, 1942, 1946, 2009 |
| Brescia | 3 | 6 | 1965, 1992, 1997 |
| Verona | 3 | 5 | 1957, 1982, 1999 |
| Como | 3 | 2 | 1949, 1980, 2002 |
| Torino | 3 | 2 | 1960, 1990, 2001 |
| Varese | 3 | 1 | 1964, 1970, 1974 |
| Vicenza | 3 | 1 | 1955, 1977, 2000 |
| Fiorentina | 3 | – | 1931, 1939, 1994 |
| Venezia | 2 | 3 | 1961, 1966 |
| Napoli | 2 | 3 | 1946, 1950 |
| Novara | 2 | 3 | 1938, 1948 |
| Pescara | 2 | 2 | 1987, 2012 |
| Udinese | 2 | 2 | 1956, 1979 |
| Ascoli | 2 | 1 | 1978, 1986 |
| Livorno | 2 | 1 | 1933, 1937 |
| Bologna | 2 | 1 | 1988, 1996 |
| Lucchese | 2 | – | 1936, 1947 |
| Milan | 2 | – | 1981, 1983 |
| Salernitana | 2 | – | 1947, 1998 |
| Modena | 1 | 4 | 1943 |
| Pisa | 1 | 4 | 1985 |
| Padova | 1 | 3 | 1948 |
| Lazio | 1 | 2 | 1969 |
| Lecce | 1 | 2 | 2010 |
| Perugia | 1 | 2 | 1975 |
| Pro Patria | 1 | 2 | 1947 |
| Alessandria | 1 | 1 | 1946 |
| Catania | 1 | 1 | 1954 |
| Empoli | 1 | 1 | 2005 |
| Foggia | 1 | 1 | 1991 |
| Mantova | 1 | 1 | 1971 |
| Piacenza | 1 | 1 | 1995 |
| Reggiana | 1 | 1 | 1993 |
| Sampdoria | 1 | 1 | 1967 |
| Siena | 1 | 1 | 2003 |
| Ternana | 1 | 1 | 1972 |
| Casale | 1 | – | 1930 |
| Chievo | 1 | – | 2008 |
| Juventus | 1 | – | 2007 |
| Liguria | 1 | - | 1941 |
| Messina | 1 | – | 1963 |
| Roma | 1 | – | 1952 |
| Sampierdarenese | 1 | - | 1934 |
| Sassuolo | 1 | – | 2013 |
| SPAL | 1 | – | 1951 |
| Triestina | 1 | – | 1958 |
| Legnano | – | 4 | – |
| Cagliari | – | 3 | – |
| Catanzaro | – | 2 | – |
| Cesena | – | 2 | – |
| Lecco | – | 2 | – |
| Cremonese | – | 1 | – |
| Parma | – | 1 | – |
| Pistoiese | – | 1 | – |
| Treviso | – | 1 | – |
Titles by region
Updated at the end of 2013–14 season
| Region | Titles | Winning Clubs |
|---|---|---|
 Lombardia
|
Atalanta (5), Brescia (3), Como (3), Varese (3), Milan (2), Mantova (1), Pro Patria (1) | |
 Toscana
|
Fiorentina (3), Livorno (2), Lucchese (2), Empoli (1), Pisa (1), Siena (1) | |
 Veneto
|
Verona (3), Vicenza (3), Venezia (2), Chievo (1), Padova (1) | |
 Liguria
|
Genoa (6), Liguria (1), Sampdoria (1), Sampierdarenese (1) | |
 Piemonte
|
Torino (3), Novara (2), Alessandria (1), Casale (1), Juventus (1) | |
 Sicilia
|
Palermo (5), Catania (1), Messina (1) | |
 Emilia-Romagna
|
Bologna (2), Modena (1), Piacenza (1), Reggiana (1), SPAL (1), Sassuolo (1) | |
 Puglia
|
Bari (4), Foggia (1), Lecce (1) | |
 Campania
|
Salernitana (2), Napoli (2) | |
 Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
Udinese (2), Triestina (1) | |
 Abruzzo
|
Pescara (2) | |
 Lazio
|
Lazio (1), Roma (1) | |
 Marche
|
Ascoli (2) | |
 Umbria
|
Perugia (1), Ternana (1) |
Titles by city
Updated at the end of 2013–14 season
Promotions by region
Updated at the end of 2013–14 season
| Region | Promotions | Promoted Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Lombardia
|
Atalanta (12), Brescia (11), Como (5), Cremonese (4), Varese (4), Legnano (3), Mantova (3), Lecco (2), Milan (2), Pro Patria (2) | |
| Veneto
|
Verona (8), Venezia (6), Vicenza (5), Padova (4), Chievo (2), Treviso (1) | |
| Puglia
|
Bari (12), Lecce (8), Foggia (5) | |
| Toscana
|
Pisa (5), Empoli (5), Fiorentina (4), Livorno (4), Lucchese (2), Siena (2), Pistoiese (1) | |
| Emilia-Romagna
|
Modena (5), Cesena (5), Bologna (3), Piacenza (3), Reggiana (2), SPAL (2), Parma (2), Sassuolo (1) | |
| Sicilia
|
Palermo (9), Catania (5), Messina (2) | |
| Piemonte
|
Torino (6), Novara (4), Alessandria (2), Casale (1), Juventus (1) | |
| Liguria
|
Genoa (8), Sampdoria (4), Liguria (1), Sampierdarenese (1) | |
| Campania
|
Napoli (6), Salernitana (2), Avellino (1) | |
| Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
Udinese (6), Triestina (1) | |
| Marche
|
Ascoli (5), Ancona (2) | |
| Lazio
|
Lazio (5), Roma (1) | |
| Abruzzo
|
Pescara (6) | |
 Calabria
|
Catanzaro (3), Reggina (2) | |
 Sardegna
|
Cagliari (5) | |
| Umbria
|
Perugia (3), Ternana (2) |
Complete team list
Seasons in Serie B
This is the complete list of the clubs that took part to the 82 Serie B seasons played from 1929–30 to 2014–15.[5][c] The bolded teams compete in Serie B in the current season.
- 57 seasons: Brescia
- 51 seasons: Verona
- 49 seasons: Modena
- 43 seasons: Bari, Palermo
- 38 seasons: Monza
- 37 seasons: Padova
- 34 seasons: Catania, Pescara, Vicenza
- 33 seasons: Como, Genoa, Reggiana, Venezia
- 32 seasons: Messina
- 31 seasons: Novara, Pisa, Taranto
- 29 seasons: Cesena
- 28 seasons: Atalanta, Cagliari, Catanzaro
- 26 seasons: Cremonese, Lecce, Parma
- 25 seasons: Salernitana
- 24 seasons: Livorno, Ternana
- 23 seasons: Foggia
- 22 seasons: Ancona, Perugia, Reggina, Spezia, Triestina
- 21 seasons: Sambenedettese, Varese
- 20 seasons: Alessandria, SPAL
- 19 seasons: Cosenza, Empoli, Lucchese, Pistoiese
- 18 seasons: Ascoli, Piacenza, Udinese
- 16 seasons: Arezzo, Avellino, Treviso
- 14 seasons: Legnano, Mantova
- 13 seasons: Pro Patria, Siena
- 12 seasons: Bologna, Fanfulla, Napoli, Torino
- 11 seasons: Crotone, Lazio, Lecco, Sampdoria, Vigevano
- 10 seasons: Marzotto, Prato, Pro Vercelli
- 9 seasons: AlbinoLeffe, Cittadella, Rimini
- 8 seasons: Chievo
- 7 seasons: Ravenna, Siracusa
- 6 seasons: Brindisi, Fidelis Andria, Frosinone, Grosseto, Seregno, Viareggio
- 5 seasons: Campobasso, Fiorentina, Potenza, Sassuolo, Savona
- 4 seasons: Barletta, Casale, Juve Stabia, Monfalcone, Pavia, Pro Sesto
- 3 seasons: Cavese, Derthona, Grion Pola, L'Aquila, Nocerina, Piombino, Sanremese, Savoia, Virtus Lanciano
- 2 seasons: Acireale, Biellese, Carpi, Carrarese, Casertana, Castel di Sangro, Crema, Fiumana, Gallaratese, Gubbio, Latina, Licata, Liguria, Milan, Pro Gorizia, Rieti, Sampierdarenese, Scafatese, Suzzara, Trani, Trapani, Vogherese
- 1 season: Alba Trastevere, Alzano Virescit, Arsenale Taranto, Bolzano, Centese, Fermana, Forlì, Gallipoli, Juventus, La Dominante, Macerata, Magenta, Massese, M.A.T.E.R., Matera, Mestrina, Molinella, Portogruaro, Roma, Sestrese, Sorrento, Virtus Entella, Vita Nova
The Serie B-C Alta Italia post-war championship
This championship was organized by geographical criteria with only Northern Italy Serie B and the best Northern Italy Serie C teams taking part. Southern Italy Serie B teams took part to 1945–46 Serie A. For this reason, this championship is not included in the statistics.
|
|
Serie B members for 2014–15
The following twenty-two clubs will be competing in Serie B during the 2014–15 season.
| Club |
Finishing position in 2013–14 |
First season in Serie B |
First season of current spell in Serie B |
Last season in Serie A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avellino | 11th | 1973–74 | 2013–14 | 1987–88 |
| Bari | 7th | 1929–30 | 2011–12 | 2010–11 |
| Bologna | 19th in Serie A | 1982–83 | 2014–15 | 2013–14 |
| Brescia | 13th | 1932–33 | 2011–12 | 2010–11 |
| Carpi | 12th | 2013–14 | 2013–14 | Never |
| Catania | 18th in Serie A | 1954–55 | 2014–15 | 2013–14 |
| Cittadella | 17th | 2000–01 | 2008–09 | Never |
| Crotone | 6th | 2000–01 | 2009–10 | Never |
| Frosinone | Prima Divisione B playoff winners | 2006–07 | 2014–15 | Never |
| Latina | 3rd | 2013–14 | 2013–14 | Never |
| Livorno | 20th in Serie A | 1931–32 | 2014–15 | 2013–14 |
| Modena | 5th | 1932–33 | 2004–05 | 2003–04 |
| Perugia | Prima Divisione B champions | 1933–34 | 2014–15 | 2003–04 |
| Pescara | 15th | 1974–75 | 2013–14 | 2012–13 |
| Pro Vercelli | Prima Divisione A playoff winners | 1935–36 | 2014–15 | 1934–35 |
| Spezia | 8th | 1928–29 | 2012–13 | Never |
| Ternana | 16th | 1946–47 | 2012–13 | 1974–75 |
| Trapani | 14th | 2013–14 | 2013–14 | Never |
| Varese | 18th | 1946–47 | 2010–11 | 1974–75 |
| Vicenza | 5th in Prima Divisione A (promoted after dissolution of Siena) | 1933–34 | 2014–15 | 2000-01 |
| Virtus Entella | Prima Divisione A champions | 2014–15 | 2014–15 | Never |
| Virtus Lanciano | 10th | 2012–13 | 2012–13 | Never |
List of Lega Serie B presidents
- 2010 Luca Ferrari
- 2010– Andrea Abodi[6]
See also
Footnotes
- ^ 1945–46 Serie A-B Southern Italy co-champions.
- ^ Due to expansion from 18 teams to 20 teams of Serie A.
- ^ The championship was suspended from 1943 to 1945 due to WWII, and the 1945–46 northern edition is not statistically considered by FIGC, even if its promotion result was official.
External links
- Serie B League Official website (in Italian)
- Serie B Championship Official website (in Italian)
References
- ^ "La Serie bwin su SKY". legaserieb.it (in Italian). Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie B. 5 August 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
- ^ "Diritti Tv: a Mediaset la Serie B, ma pagano anche ex abbonati Dahlia". tvdigitaldivide.it (in Italian). TV Digital divide. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ^ "IL CAMPIONATO SI CHIAMERÀ "SERIE B EUROBET"" (in Italian). Lega Serie B. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - ^ "Dalla nuova Lega Serie B, nasce il campionato Serie bwin". Lega Serie B (in Italian). 7 July 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2010. [dead link]
- ^ "Italy - Serie B All-Time Table 1929–2011". rsssf.com. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
- ^ "Comunicato ufficiale N.2" (PDF). legaserieb.it (in Italian). Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie B. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
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