L.R. Vicenza Virtus

1953–54 L.R. Vicenza

The early 1950s were quite troublesome due to economic problems, but in 1953 the club was bought by Lanerossi, a woollen firm from Schio, with the side being renamed Lanerossi Vicenza.

Between 1955 and 1975 Vicenza never left the top level, always putting a hard fight against more established clubs. In this period the side was also known as Nobile Provinciale (Noble Provincial).

In 1964 and 1966 it finished 6th, with the Brazilian Luis Vinicio finishing league's top-scorer in the former with 25 goals.

In 1975 the club was relegated, however, after winning the 1976–77 second division, they would eventually finish runners-up in the following season with a young Paolo Rossi led the scoring charts with 24 goals. In that year the side was nicknamed Real Vicenza. Club chairman Giuseppe Farina had just bought the striker from Juventus for a then record fee of 2.6 billion lire, but the team would eventually drop two divisions in just three seasons.

1973–74 L.R. Vicenza

In the mid-1980s, Roberto Baggio started his career at the club, leading it to the Serie B. In 1986 Vicenza achieved a top flight promotion that was subsequently denied due to its involvement in the second Totonero match-fixing scandal. The club was soon relegated back to Serie C1.

1990–2018 Vicenza Calcio logo

In 1990 Vicenza took back its current name and was promoted to Serie B in 1993, thanks to coach Renzo Ulivieri. His successor, Francesco Guidolin took the team back to Serie A in 1995, and led it through successive successful seasons. After finishing ninth in the league, the club won the 1996–97 Italian Cup with a 3–1 aggregate win over Napoli, eventually reaching next year's Cup Winners' Cup semi-finals, being defeated by Chelsea after winning the first leg in Vicenza for 1–0.

In 1999 the team was relegated to Serie B and after a return to the top flight in 2000–01, was relegated to Lega Pro Prima Divisione in 2005, after losing a relegation playout against Triestina. However, the club was readmitted to Serie B as F.I.G.C. had determined that Genoa C.F.C. had fixed the final match of the season.

In the season 2011–12 the club was relegated to Lega Pro Prima Divisione after losing the relegation play-off against Empoli. Vicenza, however, were reinstated in Serie B at the eve of the 2012–13 season in place of Lecce for its role in the 2011–12 Italian football scandal.[3] However, the club finished the 2012–13 in 19th place; missing out on the play-out and were finally relegated after reprieves in the previous two seasons.

2014–15 Vicenza Calcio

Vicenza ended the 2013–14 season in fifth place, being successively defeated by Savona in the promotion play-offs, and were due to play the 2014–15 season in the unified Lega Pro division, that would have featured an unprecedented crosstown derby against Real Vicenza. However, the dissolution of Siena meant Vicenza were promoted to become the 22nd team in Serie B. Vicenza were relegated again at the conclusion of the 2016–17 Serie B after finishing 20th.

The club entered a debt restructuring process since March 2016, which the new director stating that the club required a re-capitalization of at least €20 million.[4] Vi.Fin. S.p.A., a special purpose vehicle for a consortium of new investors, provided just €2.5 million new shares of the club in May 2016. Immediately before the recapitalization, Vi.Fin. acquired most of the shares of the club from Finalfa S.r.l., a company owned by Sergio Cassingena.[5]

Former Vicenza chairman Tiziano Cunico and CEO Dario Cassingena were also sued by the prosecutor of Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in September 2016 for allegations of reporting false profits from player exchanges with Parma; where prices were inflated relative to their performances in the first team.[6] The players under the investigation that involving Vicenza were Sandrini (sold to Parma for Malivojević; both players were tagged for €1.2 million)[6] Eventually the club and directors were inadmissible from the charge due to expiry of the legal proceeding.[7][8][9] In a different matter, Dario Cassingena was sentenced 10 months (in probation) by the Court of Vicenza, after the football club failed to paid the value-added tax in time.[10]

On 1 June 2017 the contract of general manager Andrea Gazzoli was resolved in a mutual consent[11] and on 5 June, Alfredo Pastorelli resigned as the chairman; citing the financial troubles of the club.[12] On 10 July 2017, Luxembourg-based Boreas Capital Sàrl announced it would buy the club. The parent company of Boreas Capital was Dubai-based G.S. Holding.[13]

However, the club faced another financial trouble during the first season of new ownership. Football Italia reported that the club failed to pay the wage since September 2017.[14]

Vicenza was declared bankrupt on 18 January 2018.[15] The team finished as the 17th of the group B of 2017–18 Serie C season, beating Santarcangelo in a relegation "play-out" matches.[16]

On 24 May 2018, it was announced by Stefano Rosso, the chairman of Bassano Virtus, (a team also from the Province of Vicenza), his team would start to play in Vicenza in 2018–19 Serie C in the color of Vicenza as L.R. Vicenza Virtus, while keeping both the youth systems of Vicenza and Bassano.[17]

In the same month, Rosso family's OTB Group acquired some of the assets of Vicenza Calcio (without the sports title of the club as Bassano Virtus was in 2018–19 Serie C already) in order to merge into the re-birthed L.R. Vicenza Virtus, which was the re-denomination of the legal person of Bassano Virtus 55 S.T.[18][19]

However, due to the Article 52 of N.O.I.F., new company from Vicenza could also apply to admit to the lower division as a replacement of Vicenza Calcio, thus another club, "A.C. Vicenza 1902" was formed as well as signing former French international footballer Djibril Cissé, despite not acquire the assets of the old club.[20] However, it was reported that such application was declined. A.C. Vicenza 1902 could only possibility apply for Terza Categoria.[21] A.C. Vicenza 1902 also signed Mathieu Manset and Clement Maury.[22]

L.R. Vicenza Virtus finished as the 8th of Group B of 2018–19 Serie C season.[23]

• ?000–2017: Banca Popolare di Vicenza[24]
• 2017–2018: Acciaierie Valbruna[25][26]

• Serie B
  • Winners: 1954–55, 1976–77, 1999–2000
• Coppa Italia
  • Winners: 1996–97
• Coppa Italia Serie C
  • Winners: 1981–82

• Benelux Cup
  • Winners: 1961
• Uhrencup
  • Winners: 1965

As of 26 January, 2021[27]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 4 DF  ARG Nahuel Valentini 6 MF  ITA Loris Zonta (Captain) 7 FW  ITA Andrea Nalini 8 MF  ITA Antonio Cinelli 9 FW  ITA Gabriele Gori (on loan from Fiorentina) 10 FW  ITA Stefano Giacomelli 11 MF  BEL Jari Vandeputte 12 GK  ITA Nicolas Gerardi 13 DF  ITA Nicola Pasini 15 DF  ITA Matteo Bruscagin 16 DF  ITA Emanuele Padella 18 FW  ITA Alessandro Marotta 19 DF  ITA Mario Ierardi

No. Pos. Nation Player 20 DF  ITA Pietro Beruatto (on loan from Juventus) 22 GK  ITA Matteo Grandi 23 DF  ITA Daniel Cappelletti 24 DF  ITA Luca Barlocco 27 MF  ITA Simone Pontisso 29 FW  ITA Samuele Longo 30 MF  ITA Luca Rigoni 33 GK  ITA Pietro Perina 34 MF  ITA Nicola Dalmonte (on loan from Genoa) 40 MF  ITA Jacopo Da Riva (on loan from Atalanta) 45 MF  ITA Davide Agazzi 69 FW  ITA Riccardo Meggiorini 95 FW  GAM Lamin Jallow

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  ITA Semuel Pizzignacco (at Legnago) — DF  ITA Lorenzo Affollati (at Trento)

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  ITA Enrico Rossi (at Arzignano Valchiampo) — MF  ITA Leonardo Zarpellon (at Virtus Verona)

3 – Giulio Savoini[28]

25 – Piermario Morosini, Midfielder (2007–09, 2011) – posthumous honour.[29]

• Roberto Baggio
• Paolo Rossi