Club Focus – Empoli

Club Statistics
City (Population): Empoli(46,017)
Founded: 1920
President: Fabrizio Corsi
Coach: Luigi Cagni
Club Address: Piazza Matteotti, 29 50053 Empoli
(Tel 0039-057-172212/Fax 79606)
Website: www.empolicalcio.it
Stadium: Carlo Castellani , 50053, Empoli
Address: Viale delle Olimpiadi
Capacity: 19,847; Average Attendance 2006-07: 5,351
Pitch dimensions: 107m x 67m
Training Ground: Campo Sussidiario,
Via della Maratona, Empoli
Most capped Italian: Antonio Di Natale - 4
Transfer record paid: Paolo Zanetti - Ł1 million from Vicenza (2003)
Transfer record recieved: Massimo Maccarone - Ł8.4 million to Middlesbrough (2002)
Club nickname: Azzurri (the Blues)
Team strip Home: Blue jersey, dark blue shorts, blue socks.
Away: White jersey, white shorts and socks
Shirt sponsor: Computer Gross
Kit manufacturer: Asics

Serie A Records
P 918 W 270 D 333 L 315 F 988 A 1059 (*)
Debut season: 1986-87
Best Finish: 7th (2006-07)
Seasons: 7
Most appearances: Antonio Busche’ - 134
All-time top sorer: Francesco Tavano - 23
Season's top scorer: Francesco Tavano – 19 (2005-06)
Most/Least points: 54 (2006-07) / 20 (1987-88/88-89)
Biggest home win: 5-0 v Napoli (1997-98)
Biggest home defeat: 0-4 v Juventus (2005-06)
Biggest away win: 3-0 v Reggina (2005-06)
Biggest away defeat: 0-4 v Napoli (1986-87), Juventus (1986-87)
& Siena (2003-04),1-5 v Cagliari (1998-99), Inter Milan (1998-99) & Juventus (2003-04)
Most/Least wins: 14 (2006-07) / 4 (1998-99)
Most/Least defeats: 20 (1998-99) / 11 (1987-88)
Most/Least goals: 50 (1997-98) / 13 (1986-87)
Most/Least conceded: 63 (1998-99) / 30 (1987-88)

Catania Squad 2007-08
23 Danielle Balli (G) DOB: 16.09.67
1 Davide Bassi (G) DOB: 12.04.85
14 Daniele Adani (D) DOB: 10.07.74
33 Nicola Ascoli (D) DOB: 11.09.79
19 Simone Iacoponi (D) DOB: 30.04.87
16 Lino Marzoratti (D) DOB: 12.10.86
2 Felice Piccolo (D) DOB: 27.08.83
46 Andrea Raggi (D) DOB: 24.06.84
4 Rincon (D) DOB: 31.05.87
7 Vittorio Tosto (D) DOB: 14.06.74
15 Richard Vanigli (D) DOB: 01.01.71
6 Ignazio Abate (M) DOB: 12.11.86
77 Luca Antonini (M) DOB: 04.08.82
24 Antonio Busce’ (M) DOB: 12.12.75
18 Guillermo Giacomazzi (M) DOB: 21.11.77
19 Claudio Marchisio (M) DOB: 19.01.86
8 Francesco Marianini (M) DOB 06.05.79
5 Davide Moro (M) DOB: 02.01.82
87 Felice Prevete (M) DOB: 31.03.87
80 Ighli Vannucchi (M) DOB: 05.08.77
17 Eder (F) DOB: 15.11.86
21 Sebastian Giovinco (F) DOB: 26.01.86
9 Nicola Pozzi (F) DOB: 30.06.86
11 Luca Saudati (F) DOB: 18.01.78
27 Rey Volpato (F) DOB: 27.08.86

History
Empoli F.C. is a football club based in Empoli, Tuscany, and formed in 1920, although its first official match was in 1921. The club has spent a large part of recent years bouncing between Italy's two top divisions. Most recently, Empoli was relegated from Serie A to Serie B in 2004, but secured promotion back to Serie A at the first opportunity, finishing first after the recoiling of Genoa at last position in Serie B, and this August it will start its 7th season in serie A, quite a record for a town of about 45,000 inhabitants, whose team founds its fortunes on its youth division, one of the most renowned in Italy.

Empoli's history was relatively obscure before the 1980s when they attained Serie B status. In 1986, they managed the remarkable feat for a small-town club of promotion to Serie A. Playing their first few home games in Florence, Empoli's Serie A debut resulted in a 1-0 win over Inter. Helped by Udinese's 9-point deduction, they managed to avoid relegation with only 23 points and 13 goals scored in 30 games. Empoli themselves would receive a 5-point penalty the following season, and were relegated despite an improved showing with another relegation in 1989.

They spent several seasons after that in Serie C1, returning to Serie B in 1996 and achieving a second successive promotion in 1997. With Luciano Spalletti at the helm, Empoli defied the odds to avoid relegation in 12th place. Relegation the following year saw a three-year stay in Serie B in which the club became notable for nurturing outstanding young talent.

Promotions to Serie A in 2002 and 2005 have seen the club emerge as brave battlers against relegation. They ended the 2005-06 Serie A season in a respectable 10th place. As a result of the Serie A match-fixing scandal at the end of that season, they gained qualification for the UEFA Cup for the following season, however did not play in it because the club management never asked for a UEFA License. In the 2006-2007 season, the club gained once more qualification for the UEFA Cup.

2007-2008 Season
After finishing a lofty 7th last season, Empoli look unlikely to repeat that feat this term. Having signed Piccolo, Giacomazzi, Giovinco and Volpato all from Juventus during the summer months obviously suggests the Azzurri's intent on mounted a challenge for mid-table status and will be relying on the goals coming from Luca Saudati. The squad dont have too many big scorers throughout the squad and i for one can only envisage a long hard campaign for Empoli. The club have snapped up 29-year-old midfielder Guillermo Giacomazzi from Palermo that adds a lot of experience to the side but i feel he will not be able to save his team from relegation.
Woody's prediction: Such a difficult season is in store for Empoli and should be propping up the table in 20th position.

(*) = Serie A record up to and including 2 September 2007

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