History of the Club | Parma Calcio 1913

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History of the Club

THE CROCIATI’S JOURNEY

1913-1930

Foundation and early years

Parma Calcio is a successor of the Verdi Foot Ball Club, which was active for a three-month period between July and September 1913 and was created to celebrate 100 years since the birth of the great composer, Giuseppe Verdi, who was born close to the city. The Club, now sporting the black cross on a white field for their strip, then reformed as Parma Foot Ball Club on 16 December 1913 but would undergo numerous name and ownership changes over the decades (Parma Associazione Sportiva, Parma Football Club, Associazione Calcio Parmense, Parma Associazione Calcio and Parma Football Club Spa). Parma mostly bounced between the second and third tiers in their initial campaigns in domestic national football but did spend the 1925/26 season in the top flight.

It was in these early years that Parma first started playing at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, which was named after one of the Club’s first presidents, who played a key role in the eventual construction of the stadium and even laid the first brick on the site on 31 December 1922

1930-1949

The challenges of the ‘30s and ‘40s

In the 1930s and 1940s, Parma were fighting to consolidate their position in Serie B, with dreams of promotion to the first division. As it was, however, the Second World War had a significant impact on football in Italy, which influenced the Club’s trajectory to trend towards the same results in our early years.

1950-1980

The road from Serie D to Serie B

The 1953/54 season saw Parma return to Serie B after a lengthy period out of Italy’s second tier. In the meantime, football had grown significantly in its viewership in Italy and around the globe. The city of Parma was no exception to the rule, shown by the interest that the team back to generate in the local community. Parma’s citizens packed into the Tardini, the roots of a bond between Club and city that still exists today.

Despite the flourishing love for the team, in 1969, Parma were forced to reform as AC Parmense due to economic strife. The Club started out in Serie D with renewed desire and ambition, leading to an unforgettable play-off against Udinese in 1972/73, which the Crociati won 2-0 to secure a return to the second tier of Italian football. Parma spent the following seasons yo-yo-ing between Serie B and C, but the fans still held the dream of Serie A close to their hearts.

the Nineties

Rise

And the dream came true on the final matchday of 1989/90. The Tardini played host to the always fierce derby against Reggiana, and Osio and Melli bagged the goals to send Parma to Serie A for the first time in our history. After 1990/91, we spent 18 consecutive seasons in the first division, often finishing near the top.

But the ‘90s are known as the years of great players from all over the world, of big European nights and of silverware. The Crociati won 8 in this period:

3 Coppa Italias (1992, 1999, 2002)
1 Cup Winners’ Cup (1993)
1 UEFA Supercup (1993)
2 UEFA Cups (1995, 1999)
1 Supercoppa Italiana (1999)

2002-2015

The new millennium

In the early years of the Noughties, despite the Club’s financial difficulties that led to big changes in the squad, Parma remained in the top flight and continued to play European football. The victory over Bologna in the relegation play-off in 2004/05 was a particular stand-out moment of the period.

We celebrated our centenary on 16 December 2013 with a series of events involving many legends from the Club’s history. The team then finished sixth in the league, earning the Gialloblù a spot in the Europa League for the following season. Due to dire financial straits, however, the Club was declared bankrupt on 19 March 2015 and we were forced to restart from Serie D.

2015-2019

Rebirth and return to Serie A

On 27 July 2015, the Club was officially reformed in Serie D by seven members. Despite the disappointment, the fans got behind the team in droves. Thousands of supporters turned up to watch our first game in Serie A against Arzignano. That bond was never to be broken and would carry Parma Calcio on our incredible rise back to Serie A. The Club achieved back-to-back-to-back promotions and, on 18 May 2018 in La Spezia, the Crociati won returned to the top flight. To date, we are the only Club in Italy to have achieved three consecutive promotions to Serie A.

2020-now

Change of ownership and Women’s football

2020 saw a big change at the Club. The majority shares in Parma Calcio were purchased by US businessman Kyle Krause, the founder of the Krause Group which controls a vast portfolio of businesses in sectors such as retail, logistics, tourism, wine production, real estate, agriculture, and sports teams.

2022/23 was a historic season for the Club; for the first time in our history, Parma Calcio had its Women’s First Team competing in Serie A.