U.S. Catanzaro 1929

Foundation and refoundations

The club were founded in 1929 as Catanzarese, then changed their denomination to Unione Sportiva Catanzaro in 1946, shortly after the end of World War II, and in 2006, to Football Club Catanzaro. The team assumed the current title in 2011, following the cancellation of the previous club's registration because of financial troubles.

From Serie A to the first bankruptcy

Catanzaro achieved promotion to Serie B in 1959, and reached the Coppa Italia final in 1966. In 1971, they defeated Bari in a play-off to win promotion to Serie A for the first time.

Catanzaro's inaugural Serie A season saw them struggle and succumb to relegation on the final day with only 3 wins and 15 draws for 21 points. However, their first-ever Serie A win came in Round 16 with a 1–0 win over Juventus. After narrowly missing out on a return to Serie A in 1975, they bounced back in 1976 but once again lasted just one year.

A third promotion in 1978 ushered in the club's golden era with a five-year stay in Serie A. With a team including Claudio Ranieri, Gianni Improta and the iconic Massimo Palanca, Catanzaro managed a highly credible 9th place in 1979. Though they finished 14th and would have been relegated for the following season, they won a reprieve thanks to forced relegations of AC Milan and Lazio. They managed 8th place in 1981 and 7th the following year before a dismal relegation in 1983. Much of the next four years was spent bouncing between Serie B and C1.

Catanzaro emerged as promotion contenders once more in 1988, with the ageless Palanca having returned to the club after a fruitless spell at Napoli. Finishing 5th, they succumbed to successive relegations in 1990 and 1991, staying in Serie C2 until 2003.

In 2005, after two consecutive promotions, Catanzaro returned to Serie B after a 15-year absence. However, after a poor season they ended their Serie B campaign in last place, meaning relegation to Serie C1. Catanzaro would immediately get another chance, the team being reinstated to Serie B due to vacancies related to the exclusion of other teams from Serie B. In its 2005/2006 Serie B campaign, Catanzaro came last again and was relegated to Serie C1; the relegation was followed by financial troubles which led to the federation cancelling the club's registration.

F.C. Catanzaro

In the summer 2006 the club was refounded with the new name of F.C. Catanzaro and registered to Serie C2 for the 2006–2007 season, with the hope to return to the upper divisions.

In season 2010–11, they were initially relegated from Lega Pro Seconda Divisione group C to Serie D, but due to the relegation of Pomezia to last place, the club was saved from relegation.

On 18 July 2011 it is excluded by the Federal Council from Lega Pro Seconda Divisione, but on 27 July 2011 it wins appeal to Tnas and then can play in 2011–12 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.

U.S. Catanzaro 1929

On 30 June 2011 the company Catanzaro Calcio 2011 acquired permanently the company branch of the bankrupt F.C. Catanzaro.

Since 6 August 2011, the company switched to the current denomination, after having purchased the historical brand and logo of U.S. Catanzaro.

In the 2011–12 season, Catanzaro obtained a respectable second place in the Lega Pro Seconda Divisione and was promoted to Lega Pro Prima Divisione after playoffs. The following two seasons saw Catanzaro ending in tenth and fourth place respectively, and also a participation in the promotion play-offs (then lost to Benevento) in the latter case.

Colors and badge

The team's colours are red and yellow.

Presidential history

Below is a presidential history list of Catanzaro, from when they were founded in 1929, until the present day.

Current squad

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