Football Season Guide

At last, at the 6th time of asking in just 7 years, 114-year-old Spezia managed to achieve their first historical promotion to Serie A through Serie B playoffs. Considering how bad their season had started, with just 1 win in the initial 7 weeks, they did an absolutely extraordinary job: having reached the third rung on the ladder in week 34, they closed the regular season there, and then went on to eliminate Chievo Verona and Frosinone from the playoffs, which they did despite losing 1 game against each of them. Vincenzo Italiano, in his first season in charge, was the architect of such an unpredictable success, and was duly confirmed at the helm also in the new campaign. This is going to be his first coaching experience in the top flight of Italian football and this could represent a problem, but it has to be added, he also achieved promotions from Serie C and Serie B with Trapani and Spezia respectively, at his first attempt. In the past season, Spezia were a good mix where youth prevailed over experience, with a squad age average of 25,7 years, and the feeling is that the management are trying to keep things unchanged. In fact, they have not signed anyone older than 29. During the summer, they lost key goalkeeper Scuffet, who returned to his parent club although he wished to stay on, and several protagonists of the attack, like Ricci, Ragusa, Gudjohnsen and Bidaoui, basically remaining without wingers, which are fundamental for Italiano’s 4-3-3 formation. Valid Zoet, coming from PSV, will be expected to act between the sticks, while Dell’Orco and Mattiello arrived from Sassuolo and Atalanta respectively to act as full-backs together with Sala. Moreover, Agudelo, who had a forgettable experience at Fiorentina, could be given playing time in an advanced role. Spezia are basically a work in progress as they are still looking for players with some Serie A experience in all the departments, in particular centre-backs, midfielders, wingers and centre-forwards.