AC Perugia
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| Full name | Associazione Calcistica Perugia Calcio S.r.l. |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Grifoni (Griffins) |
| Founded | 1905 2005 (Perugia Calcio) 2010 (A.S.D. Perugia Calcio) |
| Ground |
Stadio Renato Curi, Perugia, Italy |
| Capacity | 28,000 |
| Chairman | Massimiliano Santopadre |
| Manager | Cristian Bucchi |
| League | Serie B |
| 2015–16 | Serie B, 10th |
| Website | Club home page |
Associazione Calcistica Perugia Calcio, previously A.C. Perugia, Perugia Calcio and commonly referred to as simply Perugia, is an Italian association football club based in Perugia, Umbria. Founded in 1905 (refounded in 2005 and 2010 due to financial troubles) has amongst its best records a runners-up season in Serie A 1978-79, in which they finished unbeaten, and the 2003 UEFA Intertoto Cup. The team currently plays in Serie B after promotion from Lega Pro Prima Divisione in 2013–14 season.
A.C. Perugia were founded on 9 June 1905, after the merger of U.S. Fortebraccio and Libertas.
Promotion to Serie B in 1966 would mark the beginning of one of the club's most successful periods. Perugia spent the next eight years in Serie B before promotion to Serie A for the first time in 1975.
In the club's first Serie A season, Perugia finished eighth with 31 points- just short of a European place. Star players in the side included defender Pierluigi Frosio and midfielders Renato Curi and Franco Vannini. The side remained in the top half of the table for the rest of the decade, finishing runners-up in 1979 with 11 wins and 19 draws, resulting in the only unbeaten side not to win a title. However, tragedy and scandal marred this period. In 1977, Curi died of a heart attack during a league match with Juventus, while Vannini's career was ended by injury in 1979. The Totonero scandal in 1980 led to a 5-point penalty and relegation in 1981. Ilario Castagner was coach during this period.
The club spent the first half of the 1980s trying to get back to Serie A, nearly succeeding in 1984–85. Another scandal in 1986 forced Perugia down to Serie C2. It was during this time that Fabrizio Ravanelli would be discovered, he would later go on to a career with Reggiana, Juventus, Middlesbrough and several other clubs before returning to Perugia.
The controversial and eccentric Luciano Gaucci took control of the club. The side returned to Serie B in 1994 and under the guidance of Giovanni Galeone reached Serie A in 1996. Perugia started well before Gaucci's decision to replace Galeone with Nevio Scala. The side's form subsequently declined before a late rally gave them a chance of survival- a 2–1 defeat at Piacenza in the final round sealed their fate. With Castagner back in charge, Perugia won a play-off with Torino to secure a return to the top flight.
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