History of the Club | Parma Calcio 1913

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History of the Club

THE GIALLOBLU'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, return to Serie A and women's team foundation

On 27 July, 2015, the club was formally re-established by seven Parma-based partners, starting again from Serie D. Despite the disappointment, the enthusiasm and love from the fans never disappeared: thousands of Crociati supporters supported the team in their first match of the Serie D campaign, against Arzignano. An eternal bond and excitement that would accompany Parma Calcio in their rapid and incredible comeback to Serie A. Within the space of just three seasons, the Crociati returned to the top-flight on 18 May, 2018 in La Spezia, following three consecutive promotions.

Come noi nessuno mAi.

In 2015, the Women’s team was also established, and immediately joined Serie C. After being relegated in 2017, the Gialloblù gained promotion to Serie C in 2018. However, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the 2019/20 season was halted.

2020-now

New ownership and Serie A Femminile

In 2020, the majority of the club was bought by entrepreneur Kyle Krause, founder of the Krause Group, through which the American Krause family controls a diverse range of businesses. After three years in Serie A, Parma was relegated in 2021, but after a few years in Serie B, the Gialloblù won the league and gained promotion to Serie A with two rounds to spare.

At the same time, the Women’s first team resumed their activities in the 2021/22 season with Ilenia Nicoli at the helm, and gained promotion to Serie C. On 10 June, 2022, President Kyle Krause decided to acquire the title from Empoli Ladies, transforming it into the new Women’s team of Parma Calcio 1913 and enrolling them into Serie A for the 2022/23 season, the first in the history of Italian Women’s football as a professional league.

After a debut season in Serie A, which finished with relegation, Parma Calcio Women consolidated themselves in Serie B, finishing the season in third place and setting a record of 11 consecutive wins in the league, from February to May 2024.