Page 18 - Italian-American Herald - February 2024

18 ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM | FEBRUARY2024 ITALIAN-AMERICANHERALD
LO SAPEVI CHE? (DID YOU KNOW?)
Understanding the promotions and relegations of Italian soccer
By Lou Thomas
Did you know that Italian soccer teams are promoted and relegated each year based on their record?
One of the oldest “football” clubs in Italy was founded in
Genoa – named Il Genoa – in 1893. More teams soon followed: Torinese (1894), la Juventus (1897), and Il Milan and Il Palermo in 1900. The present-day Serie “A” began
in 1929. Unlike professional sports in the United States, Italian “football” has a system of promotions and relegations that take place on an annual basis.
Serie “A” consists of 20 teams and the squads that end up in 18th through 20th place in the standings are relegated or demoted to the lower level Serie “B.” Conversely, the top three teams in Serie “B” are promoted to Serie “A.” Throughout its history the only Serie “A” team that was never relegated was Inter. In 2006, two top teams Juventus and AC Milan were unceremoniously relegated due to the
“Calciopoli” scandal which involved illegal betting.
In 2022 three Serie “A” teams were relegated to Serie “B,” Spezia, Cremonese and Sampdoria while Frosinone after many years returned to the top level along with Genoa and Cagliari. The “scudetto” or shield is awarded to the first-place team. Since its inception Juventus has won 36 “scudetti” while AC Milan and Inter are tied at 19.
The nicknames of the soccer teams
began with the “la maglia” or uniform of the NationalSquad–the “GliAzzurri.”Bluewas chosen in homage to the coat of arms of the HouseofSavoia. TheHouseofSavoiahas held residence in Torino since the late 17th century. Torino was also the birthplace of the Italian Unification and the first capital of the New Republic. This tradition of nicknames based on the colors of “la maglia” continues today. Juventus is called “bianconeri,” AC Milan is “rossoneri,” Roma is known as “giallorossi,” etc.
This European style of annual movement between the top levels of competition maintains integrity and the importance of lower division teams winning at all costs.
This is contrary to many losing teams in American sports who often put little effort in trying to win the
last games of the season lest
they may impact their draft position.
If the United States
followed this model,
national college champs
the University of
Michigan would be
promoted to play in theNFL.nextseason.
Meanwhile, the New EnglandPatriots,whowon
just four of their 17 games,
would be relegated to play in the
SEC conference. Can you imagine? IAH
Adesso lo sa.
Lou Thomas was born and raised in Philadelphia, in a family with origins in Abruzzo. He is a Temple graduate who has been teaching Italian for 20 years at all levels. He attained a master’s degree in teaching Italian from Rutgers University. The sounds of Vivaldi and Jovanotti fill his classroom. His favorite quote is Il vino e’ la poesia della terra.
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