Empoli
Full name	Empoli Football Club SpA
Nickname(s)	Azzurri (the Blues)
Founded	1920
Ground	Stadio Carlo Castellani, Empoli, Italy (Capacity 19,847)
Chairman	Fabrizio Corsi
Manager	Luigi Cagni
League	Serie A
2007–08	Serie A, 18th (relegated)
Home colours 　 Away colours

Empoli Football Club is a football club based in Empoli, Tuscany, and formed in 1920, although its first official match was in 1921. Football club names are a part of the sport 's culture reflecting century-old traditions This is a of lists of the use of Nicknames in football (soccer. Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar Stadio Carlo Castellani is a multi-use Stadium in Empoli, Italy. Empoli is a town in Tuscany, Italy, about 30 km southwest of Florence. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The following is a list of Association football stadia. They are ordered by their capacity, that is the maximum number of spectators that the Luigi "Gigi" Cagni (born June 14, 1950 in Brescia) is an Italian Football (soccer manager and former player who last Serie A (officially known as the Lega Calcio Serie A TIM for Sponsorship reasons is a professional league competition for football clubs located Events Plusvalenze investigation Inquiries are being conducted by the CO Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Empoli is a town in Tuscany, Italy, about 30 km southwest of Florence. Tuscany (Toscana is a region in Italy. It has an area of 22990 km² and a population of about 3 Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar

The club has spent a large part of recent years bouncing between Italy's two top divisions. Most recently, Empoli was relegated from Serie A to Serie B in 2004, but secured promotion back to Serie A at the first opportunity, finishing first after the recoiling of Genoa at last position in Serie B. Serie A (officially known as the Lega Calcio Serie A TIM for Sponsorship reasons is a professional league competition for football clubs located Promotion and Relegation At the end of the season, three teams are promoted to Serie A and four teams are relegated to Serie C1. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Genoa or the abbreviation Genoa CFC, is a professional football club based in the city Promotion and Relegation At the end of the season, three teams are promoted to Serie A and four teams are relegated to Serie C1. 2007–08 is the seventh Serie A season for Empoli, quite a record for a town of about 45,000 inhabitants, whose team founds its fortunes on their youth divisions, among the most renowned in Italy. Events Plusvalenze investigation Inquiries are being conducted by the CO

The team's colours are blue and white.

Contents 1 History 2 Current first team squad 2.1 Out on loan 3 Notable former players 4 References 5 External links

History

Empoli's history was relatively obscure before the 1980s when they attained Serie B status. In 1986, they managed the remarkable feat for a small-town club of promotion to Serie A. Playing their first few home games in Florence, Empoli's Serie A debut resulted in a 1–0 win over Inter. Florence ( Italian: Firenze Florentia and Fiorenza) is the Capital City of the Italian region of Tuscany Helped by Udinese's 9-point deduction, they managed to avoid relegation with only 23 points and 13 goals scored in 30 games. Empoli themselves would receive a 5-point penalty the following season, and were relegated despite an improved showing with another relegation in 1989.

They spent several seasons after that in Serie C1, returning to Serie B in 1996 and achieving a second successive promotion in 1997. With Luciano Spalletti at the helm, Empoli defied the odds to avoid relegation in 12th place. Luciano Spalletti (born 7 March 1959 in Certaldo, Florence) is an Italian football coach who currently manages A Relegation the following year saw a three-year stay in Serie B in which the club became notable for nurturing outstanding young talent.

Promotions to Serie A in 2002 and 2005 have seen the club emerge as brave battlers against relegation. They ended the 2005–06 Serie A season in a respectable 10th place. As a result of the Serie A match-fixing scandal at the end of that season, they gained qualification for the UEFA Cup for the following season, however did not play in it because the club management never asked for a UEFA License. The 2006 Italian football scandal (Italian more common names Calciopoli or Moggiopoli, sometimes referred to as Calciocaos) involved Italy 's The UEFA Cup is a football competition for European club teams organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA. In the 2006–07 season, the club gained once more qualification for the UEFA Cup. Events Matchfixing scandal See also 2006 Serie A scandal Following the Serie A scandal of 2006 Juventus F

In 2007-08 season they marked their historical debut in the continental competition in a two-legged round against FC Zurich, which Empoli lost 4–2 on aggregate. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common FC Zürich or FCZ (short for Fussballclub Zürich) is a football club from Zürich, Switzerland, founded 1896. A poor showing in the initial part of the season then led chairman Fabrizio Corsi to sack Luigi Cagni, who led the Tuscans to clinch UEFA Cup qualification, and replace him with Alberto Malesani. Luigi "Gigi" Cagni (born June 14, 1950 in Brescia) is an Italian Football (soccer manager and former player who last Alberto Malesani (born June 5, 1954 in Verona) is an Italian Football (soccer manager ^[1] Cagni was re-appointed on March 31, 2008 but the team faced relegation after the last match of the season.

Current first team squad

As of 2008-02-01^[2]

No. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1327 - Teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen Position Player 1 GK Davide Bassi 2 DF Felice Piccolo (co-owned with Juventus) 3 DF Nicola Ascoli 4 DF Rincón (on loan from Internazionale) 5 MF Davide Moro 6 MF Ignazio Abate (co-owned with AC Milan) 7 DF Vittorio Tosto 8 MF Francesco Marianini 9 FW Nicola Pozzi (co-owned with AC Milan) 10 MF Ighli Vannucchi (captain) 11 FW Luca Saudati 14 DF Daniele Adani 15 DF Richard Vanigli 16 DF Lino Marzoratti

No. In many team Sports a goalkeeper (termed goaltender netminder, goalie, or keeper in some sports Davide Bassi (born 12 April, 1985 in Sarzana, La Spezia) is an Italian Football (soccer Goalkeeper. In Association football (soccer a defender is a player who tries to prevent the other team from scoring Felice Piccolo (born August 27, 1983 in Pomigliano d'Arco, Naples) is an Italian Football player In Association football (soccer a defender is a player who tries to prevent the other team from scoring Nicola Ascoli (born 11 September, 1979 in Vibo Valentia) is an Italian Football (soccer defender. In Association football (soccer a defender is a player who tries to prevent the other team from scoring For other things named "Rincón" See Rincon. Carlos Eduardo de Castro Lourenço, commonly known as Rincón (born May 31 Football Club Internazionale Milano, most commonly referred to as simply Internazionale, or Inter, is an Italian professional football club For the Australian Rules position see Midfielder (Australian Rules. Davide Moro (born January 2, 1982 in Taranto) is an Italian Football (soccer Midfielder. For the Australian Rules position see Midfielder (Australian Rules. Ignazio Abate (born November 12, 1986 in Sant'Agata de' Goti, Province of Benevento) is an Italian football winger Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to by the abbreviation Milan, is an Italian professional football club based in Milan, Lombardy In Association football (soccer a defender is a player who tries to prevent the other team from scoring Vittorio Tosto (born 14 June 1974 in Marina di Cariati, Cosenza) is an Italian footballer. For the Australian Rules position see Midfielder (Australian Rules. Francesco Marianini (born May 6, 1979 in Pisa) is an Italian Football (soccer Midfielder. Strikers, also known as forwards and attackers, are the players on a team in Association football (soccer in the row nearest to the opposing Nicola Pozzi (born June 30, 1986 in Santarcangelo di Romagna) is an Italian footballer who currently plays in the Serie Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to by the abbreviation Milan, is an Italian professional football club based in Milan, Lombardy For the Australian Rules position see Midfielder (Australian Rules. Ighli Vannucchi (born August 5, 1977 in Prato) is an Italian Football (soccer Midfielder. Strikers, also known as forwards and attackers, are the players on a team in Association football (soccer in the row nearest to the opposing Luca Saudati (born 18 January, 1978 in Milan) is an Italian football player In Association football (soccer a defender is a player who tries to prevent the other team from scoring Daniele Adani (born 10 July 1974 in Correggio, Emilia Romagna) is an Italian football player who currently plays for Empoli In Association football (soccer a defender is a player who tries to prevent the other team from scoring Richard Vanigli (born 1 June 1971 in Forlì) is an Italian footballer who currently plays in the Serie A league for In Association football (soccer a defender is a player who tries to prevent the other team from scoring Lino Marzoratti (born October 12, 1986 in Rho, Province of Milan) is an Italian football player Position Player 17 MF Gianluca Musacci 18 MF Guillermo Giacomazzi (on loan from Lecce) 19 MF Claudio Marchisio (on loan from Juventus) 20 DF Simone Iacoponi 21 MF Sebastian Giovinco (on loan from Juventus) 23 GK Daniele Balli 24 MF Antonio Buscè (vice-captain) 27 FW Rey Volpato 32 MF Alessandro Budel 50 DF Francesco Pratali 90 FW Levan Mchedlidze

Out on loan

No. For the Australian Rules position see Midfielder (Australian Rules. Gianluca Musacci (born 1 April, 1987 in Viareggio) is an Italian footballer For the Australian Rules position see Midfielder (Australian Rules. Guillermo Gonzalo Suárez Giacomazzi ( Montevideo, Uruguay, November 21, 1977) is an Uruguayan football player currently playing for Unione Sportiva Lecce or simply US Lecce is an Italian football club based in Lecce, Apulia. For the Australian Rules position see Midfielder (Australian Rules. Claudio Marchisio (born January 19 1986 in Turin) is an Italian football player In Association football (soccer a defender is a player who tries to prevent the other team from scoring Simone Iacoponi (born 30 April 1987 in Pontedera, Italy) is an Italian footballer who currently plays in the For the Australian Rules position see Midfielder (Australian Rules. Sebastian Giovinco (born January 26, 1987 in Turin) is an Italian footballer who is currently playing for Juventus In many team Sports a goalkeeper (termed goaltender netminder, goalie, or keeper in some sports Daniele Balli (born September 16, 1967 in Florence) is an Italian Football (soccer Goalkeeper. For the Australian Rules position see Midfielder (Australian Rules. Antonio Buscè (born 12 December, 1975 in Gragnano) is an Italian Football (soccer Midfielder. Strikers, also known as forwards and attackers, are the players on a team in Association football (soccer in the row nearest to the opposing Rey Volpato (born 27 August 1986 in Dolo, Venice) is an Italian Football (soccer Striker. For the Australian Rules position see Midfielder (Australian Rules. Alessandro Budel (born 25 February, 1981 in Basiglio) is an Italian Football (soccer midfielder who currently plays for In Association football (soccer a defender is a player who tries to prevent the other team from scoring Francesco Pratali (born January 17, 1979 in Pontedera) is an Italian Football (soccer defender. Strikers, also known as forwards and attackers, are the players on a team in Association football (soccer in the row nearest to the opposing Levan Mchedlidze ( Georgian: ლევან მჭედლიძე – lɛvan mʧʼɛdlɪʣɛ (born March 24, 1990 in Tbilisi) is a Position Player –– FW Éder (on loan to Frosinone Calcio)

Notable former players

• Gianluca Berti
• Marco Bresciano
• Antonio Di Natale
• Johnny Ekström
• Vincenzo Grella
• Massimo Maccarone
• Vincenzo Montella
• Tommaso Rocchi
• Francesco Tavano
• Marcelo Zalayeta
• See also: Category:Empoli F.C. players

References

External links

• Empoli's official website
• (Italian) CalcioToscano.it - News

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