Football club in Bergamo, Italy
Football club
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly
referred to as Atalanta, is a professional football club based in💴 Bergamo, Lombardy,
Italy. The club plays in Serie A, having gained promotion from Serie B in
2010–11.
Atalanta was founded in💴 1907 by Liceo Classico Paolo Sarpi students and is
nicknamed La Dea, the Nerazzurri and the Orobici. The club plays💴 in blue-and-black
vertically striped shirts, black shorts and black socks. The club plays its home
matches at the 21,747-seater Gewiss💴 Stadium. In Italy, Atalanta is sometimes called
Regina delle provinciali (queen of the provincial clubs) to mark the fact that💴 the club
is the most consistent among Italian clubs not based in a regional capital, having
played 62 seasons in💴 Serie A, 28 in Serie B, and only one in Serie C. Atalanta has a
long-standing rivalry with nearby club💴 Brescia.[4][5]
The club is also famed for its
youth academy, which has produced several notable talents who have played in the💴 top
leagues of Europe.[6]
The club won the Coppa Italia in 1963 and reached the semi-finals
of the Cup Winners' Cup💴 in 1988, when it was competing in Serie B. This is still the
joint-best performance ever by a non-first division💴 club in a major UEFA competition
(together with Cardiff City). Atalanta also participated in five seasons of the UEFA
Europa💴 League (previously known as the UEFA Cup),[a] reaching the quarter-finals in
1991 and in 2024. Atalanta additionally qualified for the💴 UEFA Champions League three
times, reaching the quarter-finals in 2024.
History [ edit ]
Founding and establishment
in Serie A (1907–1959) [💴 edit ]
Performances of Atalanta in the Italian league since
the first season of a unified Serie A
Atalanta was founded on💴 17 October 1907 by
students of the Liceo Classico Paolo Sarpi and was named after the female athlete of
the💴 same name from Greek mythology.[7] Though it immediately established a football
sector, it was not the first football association based💴 in Bergamo: Football Club
Bergamo was founded by Swiss emigrants in 1904,[9] and was absorbed into another club,
Bergamasca, in💴 1911. The Italian Football Federation did not recognize Atalanta until
1914, and in 1919 announced that it would only allow💴 one club from Bergamo to compete
in the highest national league (then called the Prima Categoria).[10] As Atalanta and
Bergamasca💴 were rivals and did not come to an agreement, admission to the Prima
Categoria was decided by a playoff match;💴 Atalanta won this match 2–0. A merger between
the two clubs nevertheless occurred in 1920, forming the new club Atalanta💴 Bergamasca
di Ginnastica e Scherma 1907 (shortened to Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio) and establishing
its black and blue (nerazzurri) colors.[10]
Atalanta competed💴 in the Seconda Divisione,
the second tier, during the early 1920s.[13] In the 1927–28 season, the club won its
group💴 and subsequently defeated Pistoiese in the playoffs to win promotion and its
first second division league triumph. The club inaugurated💴 its current home stadium in
the Borgo Santa Caterina neighborhood in 1928,[15] and was admitted to Serie B, the
second💴 tier of the restructured Italian league, in 1929.[16] After almost a decade in
Serie B, Atalanta achieved its first promotion💴 to Serie A in 1937 under coach Ottavio
Barbieri, though was relegated at the end of the season. The club💴 returned to Serie A
in 1940 as champion of Serie B.[13]
During the 1940s, Atalanta performed consistently
in the top flight,💴 though the national league was halted between 1943 and 1945 due to
World War II.[19] Atalanta achieved a fifth-place finish💴 in the 1947–48 Serie A under
coach Ivo Fiorentini, its highest league finish until 2024.[20][21] The club earned a
reputation💴 as the provinciale terribile (terrible provincial team) during this time as
a result of its successes against well-known metropolitan teams💴 such as the Grande
Torino, who won Serie A five times during the 1940s.[20] Atalanta achieved mid-table
finishes during much💴 of the 1950s and remained in Serie A until 1958,[13] when it was
relegated due to accusations of match fixing.💴 These accusations were found to be false
a year later, after the club returned to Serie A by winning its💴 second Serie B
title.[23]
Coppa Italia victory, decline, and reemergence in Europe (1959–1994) [ edit
]
Atalanta players Angelo Domenghini and Piero💴 Gardoni hoisting the 1962–63 Coppa
Italia
Atalanta won the Coppa Italia in 1963, defeating Torino 3–1 in the final thanks
to💴 a hat-trick by striker Angelo Domenghini.[24] This was the senior team's first (and
so far only) major trophy. During the💴 early 1960s, the club made its debut in European
competitions, among them the 1961–62 Mitropa Cup, the Coppa dell'Amicizia, and💴 the
Coppa delle Alpi.[25] As domestic cup winners, the club qualified for the 1963–64
European Cup Winners' Cup, its first💴 major UEFA competition, though was eliminated by
Portuguese club Sporting CP in the first round.[24] The club made a few💴 more
appearances in international (though not UEFA) cups during the 1960s,[25] though was
relegated in 1969 after a decade in💴 the top flight.[13]
During the 1970s, Atalanta
experienced several movements between Serie A and Serie B, and was in the second💴 tier
for four consecutive seasons between 1973 and 1977.[16] Despite playing in Serie B at
the time, the club developed💴 several young players who moved on to historically bigger
clubs and won the 1982 FIFA World Cup with Italy. Several💴 difficult seasons then saw
Atalanta fall into Serie B in 1980 and Serie C1 in 1981, when for the first💴 time in its
history, the club would play outside the top two tiers. This was a blow that
revitalized the💴 club, from which many changes in management followed.[29]
Under new
management,[30] Atalanta comfortably won Group A of Serie C1 in 1982,[29]💴 returning to
Serie B the next season and then to Serie A in 1984, where it would remain until
1987.[13]💴 Atalanta reached its second Coppa Italia final in 1987, though lost 4–0 to
Napoli over two legs.[31] As Napoli also💴 won Serie A that season and therefore
qualified for the European Cup, Atalanta qualified for its second European Cup Winners'
💴 Cup.[32] This was a turning point for the club; Emiliano Mondonico was appointed as
coach and the club would achieve💴 promotion after only one season in Serie B. In the Cup
Winners' Cup, Atalanta lost its first match against Welsh💴 club Merthyr Tydfil, but won
the return fixture and went on to reach the semi-finals, where it would be eliminated
💴 4–2 on aggregate by Belgian club K.V. Mechelen, who would eventually win the
tournament.[33] In doing so, Atalanta achieved the💴 best finish in a UEFA competition of
a club playing outside its country's top flight league.[34][b] With a sixth-place
finish💴 in the 1988–89 Serie A, Atalanta qualified for its first UEFA Cup, though was
eliminated by Russian club Spartak Moscow💴 in the first round.[30] Atalanta then
finished seventh in the 1989–90 Serie A and reached the quarterfinals of the 1990–91
💴 UEFA Cup, losing to local rival and eventual winner Internazionale.[37]
Fluctuating
performances (1994–2024) [ edit ]
After several upper mid-table finishes and💴 a narrowly
missed UEFA cup qualification in 1993,[38] the club was relegated in 1994 after several
investments to raise the💴 club's goals failed,[40] though would return to Serie A in
1995.[13] In the 1995–96 season, Atalanta reached the Coppa Italia💴 final again, losing
against Fiorentina. In 1996–97 season, striker Filippo Inzaghi scored 24 league goals
and became the first (and💴 so far only) Atalanta player to be named capocannoniere
(Serie A top scorer).[41][c] The club then sold several key players,💴 causing it to
struggle and return to Serie B in 1998;[42] it would remain there until 2000, when
coach Giovanni💴 Vavassori revitalized the team with youth academy players in a
successful promotion campaign.[43][44]
In the 2000s, Atalanta experienced more
divisional movements:💴 it was relegated in 2002–03 (despite finishing seventh two years
prior) and 2004–05,[38] but achieved promotion to Serie A after💴 only one season in
Serie B both times, winning the 2005–06 edition.[45] After a tumultuous 2009–10 season,
which saw the💴 club change coach three times, the club was once again relegated;[47]
after this relegation, entrepreneur Antonio Percassi became the club's💴 new
president.[48][d] and Stefano Colantuono returned as coach. The club won Serie B in
2011 and thus immediately returned to💴 Serie A.[49] Despite this success, club captain
Cristiano Doni was named among the suspects in a match-fixing scandal (also known💴 as
Calcioscommesse);[50] Doni was handed a three-and-a-half-year ban from football and the
club was docked six points in the 2011–12💴 league table and two points in the 2012–13
league table.[51][52] Throughout the early and mid-2010s, Atalanta generally lingered
in lower-midtable💴 in Serie A.[38]
New heights under Gasperini (2024–present) [ edit
]
Atalanta team that finished fourth in Serie A in 2024
Former Genoa💴 coach Gian Piero
Gasperini was appointed before the 2024–17 season. Despite initial difficulties, the
club's results steadily improved throughout the💴 season. Gasperini integrated players
from the club's youth sector and led the club to a fourth-place league finish with 72
💴 points, besting its previous records and qualifying for the 2024–18 UEFA Europa League
after a 26-year absence from UEFA competitions.[21][53]💴 In the Europa League, the club
reached the round of 32, losing 4–3 on aggregate to Borussia Dortmund.[54] In 2024–18,
💴 Atalanta finished seventh in the league, entering the qualifying rounds for 2024–19
UEFA Europa League, though was eliminated in a💴 penalty shootout by Danish club
Copenhagen.[55] Despite a difficult start to the 2024–19 season, Atalanta achieved many
positive results and💴 finished third in Serie A, its best ever league finish; with this
result, the club qualified for the UEFA Champions💴 League group stage for the first time
in its history.[56] Atalanta also reached the Coppa Italia final, though lost 2–0💴 to
Lazio.[57]
In the 2024–20 season, Atalanta lost its first three Champions League
matches, but went on to qualify for the💴 round of 16.[58][e] Atalanta then defeated
Spanish club Valencia in both legs of the round of 16, reaching the quarterfinals,[59]
💴 where it would be eliminated by French champion Paris Saint-Germain.[60] The club also
repeated its third-place finish in Serie A💴 and achieved a second consecutive Champions
League qualification, breaking several club records.[61] In the 2024–21 season,
Atalanta reached the round💴 of 16 in the Champions League for the second time, following
an away victory over Ajax,[62] and later secured Champions💴 League qualification and
third place in Serie A for the third consecutive time.[63]
On 19 February 2024, a U.S.
based consortium💴 led by Stephen Pagliuca acquired a 55% stake of La Dea srl, the
controlling company of Atalanta, previously wholly owned💴 by the Percassi family. Under
the new agreement, Pagliuca was named co-chairman, with Antonio Percassi staying on as
chairman.[2] Atalanta💴 finished eighth in Serie A in 2024, failing to qualify for
European competitions, though rebounded the next season with a💴 fifth-place finish in
Serie A and qualification to the Europa League.[64] On 4 August 2024, Atalanta
established a reserve team💴 in Serie C, becoming the second Italian club to do
so.[65]
Colours, kits, and crest [ edit ]
Colours and kits [💴 edit ]
The first kits
adopted by Atalanta after its founding featured thin black and white vertical
stripes.[10] These were Atalanta's💴 colours until 1920, when the club merged with local
rival Bergamasca (which had blue and white kits) in order to💴 compete in the Italian
league. Following the merger, the common colour white was eliminated, leaving black and
blue (nerazzurri) as💴 the colours of the newly-formed Atalanta Bergamasca
Calcio.[10][67] In the first years following this merger, the club's kits featured
black💴 and blue quarters. Atalanta adopted its classic black and blue vertical stripes
several years later.[69]
Atalanta's home kits have characteristically had💴 black and
blue vertical stripes since their adoption in the 1920s. Slight variations in thickness
of the stripes have existed💴 over the years, though the club never strayed far from the
classic design for its home kits. Atalanta's away kits💴 have traditionally been mostly
white, with various touches of black and blue and other details. The club's third kits
and💴 goalkeeper kits have not historically adhered to any strict pattern; many colours
(among them green, red, light blue, and black)💴 have been used for these over the
years.[69][70][71][72]
Since 2010, Atalanta plays its final home match of the calendar
year, a💴 "Christmas Match", in specially designed kits. The kits are then auctioned to
raise money for charity.[73][74]
Gianpaolo Bellini with Atalanta in💴 2024
Josip Iličić
with Atalanta in 2024 (away kit, featuring the running girl in place of the club's
crest)
Crest [ edit💴 ]
Atalanta has had five crests since its foundation, all of which
depict some combination of the team's name (except between💴 1984 and 1993), colours, and
(since 1963) the Greek mythological athlete Atalanta, from whom the club derives its
name as💴 well as its nickname La Dea.[90][91]
The club's first three crests were shields
featuring the name Atalanta on top, coloured stripes💴 on the left, and another symbolic
representation on the right. The original crest dates back to 1907 and had the💴 club's
original black and white stripes alongside a blue patch. In 1963, after the club won
the Coppa Italia, the💴 crest was redesigned to feature black and blue stripes alongside
a running girl representing Atalanta.[90][91] The crest's colours and representation💴 of
Atalanta changed again in the 1970s, though followed the same basic shape as the 1963
version.[92]
In 1984, the crest💴 underwent a major redesign: the club's name and the
running girl's body were removed from the crest and its shape💴 was changed from a shield
to a circle. This "classic" crest featured a white silhouette of Atalanta's head on a
💴 black and blue background, enclosed in three concentric white, black, and golden yellow
circles. Black, blue, and white were retained—as💴 the club's colours—while yellow was
added to represent the golden apples, which according to mythology, Hippomenes tossed
to Atalanta to💴 distract her and defeat her in a footrace.[91]
The club's modern crest
was designed in 1993. It incorporates the 1984 crest💴 into its design, though tilts
Atalanta's head and lacks the yellow circle. The name Atalanta and founding year 1907
were💴 added respectively above and below the circle, which is enclosed in an ellipse
featuring the same split black and blue💴 background as the 1984 design.[90][91]
Stadium
[ edit ]
Atalanta has played at its current stadium, the 24,950-seater Gewiss Stadium
in the💴 Borgo Santa Caterina neighborhood of Bergamo, since 1928.[1] Prior to its
opening, Atalanta played at several other grounds in Bergamo.💴 Between its founding in
1907 and recognition by the FIGC in 1914, the club did not have a dedicated playing
💴 field and only played friendly matches in public spaces—the Piazza d'Armi and the Campo
di Marte in Bergamo. In 1914,💴 Atalanta's first playing field was established on the Via
Maglio del Lotto,[94] near the Bergamo–Milan railway. It measured 90 by💴 45 metres (295
by 148 ft) and had a seated capacity of 1,000 spectators. Due to financial hardship
during World💴 War I, though, Atalanta was forced to sell the land containing its field,
leaving it without a home ground. As💴 a solution, entrepreneur and philanthropist Betty
Ambiveri sold the Clementina field, an older venue in Seriate that hosted sporting
events💴 such as cycling, to the club. The new field was inaugurated as the Atalanta
Stadium and it hosted 14,000 spectators💴 in its first match against La Dominante of
Genoa.[94]
With the growth of football in the 1920s, Atalanta needed a new💴 stadium.[94]
The new stadium was constructed on Viale Margherita (now Viale Giulio Cesare),[9]
replacing a hippodrome that once occupied the💴 site.[15][99] Construction of the new
stadium took one year; it opened in 1928 and cost 3.5 million lire.[94] The stadium💴 was
named after fascist Mario Brumana; this was common naming practice in fascist
Italy.[15][94] The Brumana stadium was much larger💴 than the Clementina field, having a
seated capacity of 12,000 spectators in two tribune (side stands) and a larger field
💴 measuring 110 by 70 metres (360 by 230 ft);[1] it also featured a running track, as it
was planned to💴 form part of a larger complex. On 1 November 1928, Atalanta played its
first unofficial match at the stadium (a💴 4–2 victory against Triestina); the stadium
was then officially inaugurated on 23 December 1928, when Atalanta defeated La
Dominante Genova💴 2–0 in front of over 14,000 spectators.[15]
Curva Nord (north stand)
of the Gewiss Stadium Original concrete Curva Nord in 2012💴 Reconstructed Curva Nord in
2024
After World War II, the stadium was renamed the Stadio Comunale ("Municipal
Stadium"), as fascism no💴 longer existed in Italy.[100] Expansion of the stadium began
in the years following the war: the construction of a south💴 stand (the Curva Sud) began
in 1949,[99] and a second stand at the north end (the Curva Nord) followed during💴 the
1960s, opening in 1971.[15] Later, in 1984, the running track was removed in order to
expand the stadium's capacity💴 upon Atalanta's return to Serie A after five years.[99]
The club's first match in the 1984–85 Serie A, a 1–1💴 draw against Inter, had an
attendance of over 43,000 spectators, a record attendance for the Stadio
Comunale.[102][i]
The Tribuna Giulio Cesare💴 underwent modernization during the early
1990s, and the stadium was renamed the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia ("Blue Athletes
of Italy")💴 in 1994.[94] In 1997, following the death of 22-year-old forward Federico
Pisani in a car accident, the Curva Nord was💴 nicknamed the Curva Pisani in his
honor.[103] Similarly, the Curva Sud was nicknamed the Curva Morosini in 2012 to
posthumously💴 honor 25-year-old youth academy player Piermario Morosini,[104] who died
following collapse on the field during a Serie B match between💴 Pescara and
Livorno.[105] In 2024, the stadium also expanded its side stands to offer pitchside
views only several meters (feet)💴 from the benches, a revolutionary feature of Italian
stadiums at the time.[99][100]
On 10 May 2024, Atalanta announced the acquisition of
💴 the stadium from the comune for 8.6 million euros,[99] becoming one of only four Serie
A clubs to own its💴 home stadium.[106][j] This acquisition allowed the club to authorize
a renovation project for the stadium,[106] for like many Italian stadiums,💴 much of its
structure and facilities were considered outdated.[100][107] This renovation project
was also necessary to upgrade the stadium to💴 meet UEFA standards for hosting matches in
UEFA competitions. Because the stadium was not ready at the time, Atalanta had💴 to play
its Europa League home matches at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia and its Champions
League home matches💴 in its debut season at San Siro in Milan.[108][109]
Following a
sponsorship agreement with electronics company Gewiss lasting at least until💴 2025, the
stadium was renamed the Gewiss Stadium on 1 July 2024.[110][111] On 6 October 2024, the
renovated Curva Nord💴 was inaugurated for Atalanta's home match against Lecce;[112] it
has covered seating for over 9,000 spectators.[113] A year later, both💴 side stands
underwent modernization and the Curva Sud had temporary seats installed on the
concrete.[114][115] These upgrades allowed Atalanta to💴 play its Champions League
matches in Bergamo starting in the 2024–21 season.[116][117] The final phase will
feature a rebuilt Curva💴 Sud (mirroring the rebuilt Curva Nord), which will increase the
stadium's capacity to about 25,000, as well as construction of💴 a new underground
parking garage and other improvements to the stadium's surroundings.[118] It was
originally expected to be completed in💴 2024, though following several delays,[15][119]
the start of construction its completion is expected by August 2024,[120] with
demolition of the💴 Curva Sud beginning in June 2024.[121] Atalanta will still be able to
play its home matches at the Gewiss Stadium💴 during construction,[118] though the
stadium will have a capacity of 3,500 fewer spectators.[121]
The stadium in Bergamo has
also been used💴 as a home ground by local Serie C club AlbinoLeffe from 2003 to 2024
(when it moved to Gorgonzola), a💴 period during which AlbinoLeffe spent nine years in
Serie B and met Atalanta on several occasions.[100][122][123] On occasion, Atalanta's
youth💴 team also plays competitive matches at the Gewiss Stadium, most recently the
Supercoppa Primavera in 2024.[124]
Training ground [ edit ]
Atalanta💴 trains at the
Centro Sportivo Bortolotti in Zingonia [it], a complex first constructed during the
community's development in the 1960s,💴 before being acquired for Atalanta by president
Achille Bortolotti and inaugurated in 1977.[125] The complex is used by the senior💴 team
for training and some friendlies, and the youth teams for training and home matches in
youth competitions such as💴 the Campionato Primavera 1.[127][128] Atalanta's renowned
youth academy (Scuola di Calcio; see below) is also based in Zingonia, and has💴 been a
continuous point of investment for the club since its
establishment.[125][129]
Supporters [ edit ]
"Being a fan of Atalanta is💴 part of the
identity of Bergamo."[130] —Local newspaper L'Eco di Bergamo editor-in-chief Andrea
Valesini (translated), 2024
According to a 2024 survey💴 , Atalanta is the 9th-most
supported club in Italy, with an estimated 314,000 supporters.[131] Although Atalanta
supporters are vastly outnumbered💴 in Italy by fans of more titled clubs, the club's
performances in recent years have drawn additional support, especially among💴 younger
generations. An increase of 43% was reported since 2024,[132][133] peaking at about
350,000 in 2024,[132] and decreasing by 10%💴 after the club failed to qualify for
European competition in 2024.[131] The club has also worked to grow its fanbase💴 with
the Neonati Atalantini initiative, implemented in 2010 by president Percassi, which
gifts a free Atalanta replica shirt to all💴 newborns born within the city limits of
Bergamo. As of 2024 , over 36,000 shirts have been distributed; similar programs💴 have
been more recently adopted by other Italian clubs as well.[134]
Most of the club's fans
reside within the Province of💴 Bergamo; conversely, there are very strong ties between
Atalanta and Bergamo's residents, who often gather together in close-knit groups in
💴 support of the club.[135] Atalanta supporters (tifosi) are considered to be among the
most passionate and loyal fans in Italy.[107]💴 Atalanta's Ultras gather mostly in the
Curva Nord as the unified group Curva Nord 1907, formed from members of various💴 Ultras
groups under the leadership of Claudio "Il Bocia" Galimberti during the early
2000s.[136] The Curva Nord Ultras were historically💴 leftist but are now
apolitical.[107][137] A separate Ultras group, Forever Atalanta, gathers in the Curva
Sud, and is believed to💴 still be leftist.[107] Atalanta Ultras have a reputation as one
of the most violent Ultras groups in Italy, self-describing as💴 "we hate everybody", and
indeed having few friends and many strong rivalries.[107][137][138] The club and its
Ultras have been punished💴 on multiple occasions by the Italian Football League for
violent or racist conduct.[139][140]
Choreography on display in the Curva Nord during
💴 the 1996 Coppa Italia Final, including the large striped flag
On match days, the Curva
Nord often features flares, fireworks, and💴 choreography, and sometimes is covered by a
large black-and-blue striped flag (see image).[107][138] During the 2024–19 season,[k]
Atalanta matches had💴 an average home attendance of 18,248,[141] of whom an estimated
15,676 were season ticket holders.[141]
Since 2002, Atalanta supporters have organized
💴 La Festa della Dea (the Festival of the Goddess), a multi-day festival to celebrate the
club, almost every summer.[107][138] The💴 celebration features music, local cuisine, and
reverence for the club's history, management, and players (both former and current
players).[143][135] Some💴 contemporary players and coaches also have appeared at the
celebration, most recently in 2024.[144]
Friendships and rivalries [ edit ]
Atalanta
supporters💴 have a long-standing friendship (gemellaggio; twinning) with supporters of
Ternana.[107] The friendship between the two clubs' supporters is one of💴 the oldest and
strongest in Italy, persevering since the 1980s.[145][146] Historically, both clubs'
Ultras were brought together by shared political💴 views, and they frequently visit the
other club's Curva.[137] Supporters of the club also have a historical twinning with
supporters💴 of German club Eintracht Frankfurt, a friendship similarly rooted in shared
political views.[137][148] There are also friendly relations between fans💴 of Atalanta
and fans of Spezia (since Atalanta's run in the European Cup Winners' Cup in
1988),[149] Cosenza, Cavese, and💴 Austrian club Wacker Innsbruck.[137]
Atalanta
supporters share their most intense rivalry [it] with supporters of nearby club
Brescia.[150] Meetings between the💴 two clubs are sometimes known as the Derby Lombardo
(Lombard Derby).[151] This rivalry has its roots in a historical feud💴 between Bergamo
and Brescia dating back to the Middle Ages, beginning in 1126 when Bergamo expanded its
territory by acquiring💴 land put up for sale by Brescia; this led to a series of
territorial disputes and armed conflicts between the💴 two cities, among them the Battle
of Cortenuova in 1237.[150][5] Although armed conflict eventually ended and both cities
were unified💴 under the Kingdom of Italy in 1861, the cities' historical rivalry has
defined the atmosphere of matches between Atalanta and💴 Brescia for the entirety of the
clubs' history. In 1993, tension between the clubs' supporters escalated further
following a match💴 (won 2–0 by Brescia) that was suspended three times due to violence
in the stands, which resulted in over 20💴 spectators being hospitalized.[4][5]
Since at
least 1977, a heartfelt rivalry has existed between fans of Atalanta and Torino.[153]
There have been💴 various altercations between the clubs' Ultras during matches between
the clubs, though some fans share a mutual respect or consider💴 each other "respected
enemies".[154] The Atalanta–Torino rivalry also gave rise to a short-lived friendship
(lasting until the early 1980s) between💴 supporters of Atalanta and Juventus—Torino's
city rival—though Atalanta supporters now also consider Juventus a hated
rival.[137][153] In addition to Juventus,💴 there are also strong rivalries between
Atalanta and Italy's other well-supported clubs:[132] Roma, Milan, Inter, Napoli, and
Lazio, and Fiorentina.[137]💴 The rivalry between Atalanta and Roma emerged in 1984 after
once-friendly relations between the two clubs' Ultras deteriorated.[155] Milan and
💴 Atalanta have had a long-standing rivalry fueled by the friendship between fans of
Brescia and Milan[146] as well as a💴 controversial episode during a Coppa Italia match
in 1990 that infuriated the Atalanta fans.[156] Matches between Inter and Atalanta have
💴 seen violence among Ultras since the early 1970s, fueled by political differences as
well as the clubs' shared black and💴 blue colors.[157] Atalanta's rivalry with Lazio has
been historically characterized by opposing political views[158]—respectively far left
against far right[146]—though has💴 greatly intensified following Lazio's Coppa Italia
triumph over Atalanta in 2024.[159] The rivalry between Atalanta and Fiorentina has
intensified during💴 Gian Piero Gasperini's tenure as Atalanta manager (also
corresponding to Atalanta's qualification to European competitions); multiple tense
episodes have occurred💴 during and after matches between the two clubs.[160] There are
also strong rivalries between supporters of Atalanta and supporters of💴 Bologna, Como (a
regional rivalry since the 1980s),[161] Genoa, Hellas Verona, Pisa, and Vicenza, as
well as Croatian club Dinamo💴 Zagreb.[137]
Players [ edit ]
Current squad [ edit ]
As of
2 January 2024[162]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA
💴 eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Atalanta U23 [
edit ]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined💴 under FIFA eligibility rules.
Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Youth sector [ edit ]
Out on loan
[ edit💴 ]
As of 1 September 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under
FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than💴 one non-FIFA nationality.
Retired
numbers [ edit ]
12 – Dedication to fans, in particular for Curva Pisani ones
14 –
Federico Pisani,💴 forward (1991–97) – posthumous honor[103]
80 – Elio Corbani [it],
radio journalist.[163]
Managers [ edit ]
Gian Piero Gasperini as Atalanta coach in
💴 2024
Atalanta's current manager (head coach) is Gian Piero Gasperini, who assumed the
role on 14 June 2024.[164] The club has💴 had a total of 59 managers (including
player-managers, assistants acting as head coach, and caretaker managers) since the
club hired💴 its first professional coach, Cesare Lovati, in 1925.[166] Current manager
Gasperini, who led the club to its highest league finishes💴 and UEFA Champions League
qualification between 2024 and 2024, has the most appearances as manager in the club's
history (331💴 as of 4 June 2024 )[167] and the longest uninterrupted tenure as Atalanta
manager (seven consecutive seasons).[169] The club's second-longest-serving💴 manager is
Emiliano Mondonico, who oversaw 299 matches in all competitions—including a European
Cup Winners' Cup and a UEFA Cup—in💴 two spells (1987–90 and 1994–98).[170] Stefano
Colantuono, who also was manager on two different occasions (2005–07 and 2010–15), is
the💴 club's third-longest serving manager, with 281 appearances in
total.[171]
Managerial history [ edit ]
Coaching staff [ edit ]
As of 13 October
💴 2024
Finances and ownership [ edit ]
Presidential history [ edit ]
Atalanta have had
several presidents (chairmen) (Italian: presidenti, lit. 'presidents' or💴 Italian:
presidenti del consiglio di amministrazione, lit. 'chairmen of the board of directors')
over the course of their history. Some💴 of them have been the main shareholder of the
club. The longest-serving chairman is Ivan Ruggeri, who was relieved of💴 his duties
after he suffered a stroke in January 2008, being replaced by his son Alessandro[175]
who was named chairman💴 of Atalanta in September 2008. Alessandro's father was unable to
manage the team due to the consequences of the stroke.[176]💴 In June 2010, after another
relegation to Serie B, Alessandro Ruggeri sold his share of the club to Antonio
Percassi,💴 who became the new chairman of Atalanta.[48]
Name Years Enrico Luchsinger
1920–1921 Antonio Gambirasi 1926–1928 Pietro Capoferri 1928–1930 Antonio Pesenti
1930–1932💴 Emilio Santi 1932–1935 Lamberto Sala 1935–1938 Nardo Bertoncini 1938–1944
Guerino Oprandi 1944–1945 Daniele Turani 1945–1964 Attilio Vicentini 1964–1969 Name
Years💴 Giacomo "Mino" Baracchi 1969–1970 Achille Bortolotti 1970–1974 Enzo Sensi
1974–1975 Achille Bortolotti 1975–1980 Cesare Bortolotti 1980–1990 Achille Bortolotti
1990 Antonio💴 Percassi 1990–1994 Ivan Ruggeri 1994–2008 Alessandro Ruggeri 2008–2010
Antonio Percassi 2010–
Honours [ edit ]
League [ edit ]
Cup [ edit ]
Divisional
💴 movements [ edit ]
Series Years Last Promotions Relegations A 62 2024–23 - 1929, 1938,
1958, 1969, 1973, 1979, 1987, 1994,💴 1998, 2003, 2005, 2010) B 28 2010–11 1928, 1937,
1940, 1959, 1971, 1977, 1984, 1988, 1995, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2011)💴 1981) C 1 1981–82
1982) never 91 years of professional football in Italy since 1929
UEFA club coefficient
ranking [ edit💴 ]
As of 13 March 2024[177]
Youth system [ edit ]
A young Gaetano Scirea,
one of the most famous footballers produced by💴 the Atalanta youth system, during the
1972–73 season
The Atalanta youth system consists of four men's teams that participate
in separate💴 national leagues (Primavera, Allievi Nazionali A and B, and Giovanissimi
Nazionali) and two that participate at a regional level (Giovanissimi💴 Regionali A and
B).[178]
The first person who was committed to set up the Atalanta youth teams was
Giuseppe Ciatto. Every💴 organisational aspect was dealt with and resolved by him, and he
also took care to train the various teams. In💴 1949 Atalanta won the Campionato
Ragazzi.
In the late 1950s former Atalanta player Luigi Tentorio (then Special
Commissioner of the club)💴 felt the need to start investing more systematically in
youth: he decided to create a real youth sector, with its💴 own independent structure
from the first team. The youth sector was entrusted to Giuseppe Brolis, who created a
partnership with💴 various clubs in the Veneto and Friuli regions, building a network of
scouts and young coaches.
A crucial step in the💴 history of the Bergamo youth sector
took place in the early 1990s when the president Antonio Percassi implemented a new
💴 investment policy, especially at the youth level. He managed to convince Fermo Favini
to leave Como and entrusted him with💴 the responsibility of the youth sector.
The
Atalanta youth system not only continued to increase the production of players for the
💴 first team, but began to win several honours in the most important national leagues.
From 1991 to 2014, the various💴 youth teams have won 17 national titles.
Apart from
successes at youth level, the Atalanta youth system is also one of💴 the most highly
regarded in Europe: according to a ranking by the study centre in Coverciano, Atalanta
have the top💴 youth system in Italy and the sixth in Europe, behind Real Madrid,
Barcelona and three French teams. The parameters used💴 were the number of first division
players produced by the club.[179] In the 2007–08 season, 22 players from Atalanta's
youth💴 played in Serie A, 32 in Serie B and 3 abroad.[179]
In 2014, a global study of
the "CIES Football Observatory",💴 placed the Atalanta youth system eighth place in the
world, with 25 former youth players who play in the top💴 5 European leagues.[180]
Notes
[ edit ]
References [ edit ]
Bibliography [ edit ]
