Frosinone

Foundation and early years

Frosinone Calcio was founded on 5 March 1906 under the name Unione Sportiva Frusinate. The colours of the team were originally red and blue which were later changed to the current yellow and blue.^[] By year of foundation, the Frosinone company ranks third among those still active in the Lazio, after "S.S. Lazio" (1900) and "S.S. Formia" (1905)^[]

On 5 March 1906, the lawyer Leone Vivoli, future mayor of Frosinone, gave birth to the "Unione Sportiva Frusinate".^[] The objectives in the articles of association included the diffusion of various sports and among them there was explicitly included football.^[]

On 14 March 1906 Il Messaggero reported the news as follows: «Made up of about thirty effective members, it was formed in our city with premises in Corso Vittorio Emanuele n.2 [NB: today Corso della Repubblica] , a Frosinone sports club chaired by the lawyer Leone Vivoli. Councilors: student R. Giovannelli - accountant G. Tora - receiver G. Pesci - engineer E. Marzi - Inspector E. Toscano - Secretary Gabriele Antonucci - Sports Director Gerardo Bodin de Chadelard».

The presence of competitive football-related activities is demonstrated by some documents immediately following the signing of the company statute, including a photo dating back to 1907, taken from the Bottoni archive, which shows a youth team of Frosinone footballers probably aged between 10 and 12 years.^[]

Il Messaggero underlined, in the edition of 1 February 1907, the feedback acquired in a short time by the new sports association in the city: «This sports union which has as its main purpose physical education, given the ever increasing number of members , has occupied new premises [...] The brilliant meeting is frequented by the most respectable people of the city who praise and encourage the healthy development of the Association».

The first corporate colours, as specified in the articles of association in article IV, were red and blue, taken from the city coat of arms. It showed a rampant lion on a red background and a blue cross band with the motto "Bellator Frusino", given by Sillo Italico, when the city refused to surrender to Hannibal's armies.^[] Given the cost of the uniforms of the time, it is unlikely that the rossoblu uniform was worn from the beginning.^[]

Article III of the Articles of Association stated, with a rather^[] modern approach for the time,^[] that the sports association abstained from any activity of a political and religious nature^[]

The first playing field adopted by the company was located in Frosinone along today's via Cicerone (at the time called via Casilina Nord) near the municipal villa, while the historic "Stadio Matusa" (which would have resisted, with modifications and extensions subsequent, until 2017) was built only in 1932.^[]

The same club, however, has conventionally chosen as its date of origin not the foundation of the sports club (5 March 1906), as is widely consolidated practice with illustrious examples such as the Genoa (1893) and Milan (1899)(sports clubs which included "cricket" and "football") but rather the change of name in "CXIX Legio M.V.S.N. Frosinone" and his consequent affiliation to the FIGC which took place over twenty years later, on 19 September 1928.^[]

This method appears very unusual^[] if we^[] consider the establishment of many other sports clubs, such as the "Società Podistica Lazio" (which, founded in 1900, joined the FIGC in 1908 and set up a football section only in 1910) or the "Genoa Cricket and Football Club" (which became affiliated five years after being created as a sports club).^[]

In fact,^[] even before the change of company name induced by the fascist regime, the U.S. Frusinate had already obtained affiliation with the FIGC in 1923 and had been involved in competitive activity by appearing in the federal ranks of the championship of the Fourth Division Lazio 1923-1924 in group B.^[] The Ciociaro team in that period at an organizational level was coordinated by Augusto Diamanti, a reference figure who was in charge of the company's executives.^[] In the starting lineup, among others: Biagi (goalkeeper), Armando Niro, Nobili, Magni, Luigi Diamanti, Dante and Giulio Toscani, Aldo and Renato Calmanti (the latter would also be captain for many years to come, also playing in the Prima Division until the mid-1930s, when he suddenly died of a heart attack at the age of 29).

The activity of the Frosinone team at the beginning of the 1920s is testified by the sports news of the time, including an article from 1922 published in La Gazzetta dello Sport.^[] It reports the description of the match played on 28 June 1922, at the Madonna della Neve football field in Frosinone, between the 59 º fanteria Frosinone and the U.S. Frusinate.^[] The official meeting, directed by the referee Carlo Magni and played in the presence of the mayor Piero Gizzi and the military authorities, was valid for the assignment of the Comune di Frosinone award.^[] The victory went to the selection of the Army for six goals to zero.^[]

Experienced players such as Vincenzo Fresia, four-time champion of Italy with Pro Vercelli and former number 9 jersey in the national team were lined up in the latter's row. Who served as a lieutenant in Frosinone in the 59th Infantry Regiment^[][][][]

In another match played on 27 August of the same year, the Frosinone team reached the Rossoneri of the C.S. Alatri thanks to a marking^[] by its captain Renato Calmanti. At that time the presence of category players in the military selection stimulated the competitive activity of the Unione Sportiva Frusinate, which was deployed on the field with the white and blue social colours.^[] After affiliation to the FIGC in 1923 and registration in the IV Lazio Division, in 1925 the Unione Sportiva Frusinate passed the baton^[] to the new Società Sportiva Alba Frusinate.^[]

At the end of the decade sports activity in Frosinone received new impetus from the fascist policies of incentives for physical exercise and sport, as well as the economic and political expansion that the city underwent following the establishment of the new province of which it became the capital in 1927. In this context, on 19 September of the following year, the company changed its name again to Gruppo Sportivo CXIX Legione M.V.S.N. Frosinone , thus joining again the Italian Football Federation.^[] On 25 September, the team registered for the third division group B championship.^[]

On 17 October 1929, the sports newspaper Il Littorale reported the news of the affiliation of the new Polisportiva Bellator Frusino to the FIGC.^[] The sports club, which collected the inheritance from the CXIX Legione M.V.S.N. Frosinone , was led by Pier Luigi Tinelli.^[] The team participated in the III Division championship, group C, while the following season was included in group B^[][][]

The club, later named Bellator Frusino, managed to^[] reach the National First Division in 1934.^[] The figure of^[][] president Emilio Frongasse was crucial in this period.^[][][] In the later half of the thirties, Bellator Frusinate disbanded, and was replaced by FF.GG. Frosinone which played its football in an interprovincial tournament.^[]

All the championships were suspended during the Second World War and the football club Frusinate disappeared.^[]

The rebirth of Frosinone occurred in the 1945–1946 championship, the team competed in the Seconda Categoria championship and rose to Prima Categoria the following year, and later, following an excellent^[][] championship season, managed to^[] gain promotion into Serie C-Lego Centro.^[] From 1948–49 to 1951–52, the Canarini competed in the Promozione-Interregionale della Lega Centro championship, and were included in the new Quarta Serie championship during the summer of 1952.^[]

From 1952 to 1958, for six consecutive years, the Canarini competed in the Quarta Serie Championship, with their highest finish being fourth place, which was achieved in 1953.^[] The most significant match this time was against Cosenza on 24 November 1957.^[] Cosenza were playing for promotion but Frosinone took the lead (and duly^[] won) with three minutes remaining.^[]

The referee, struck by a Cosenza player, fell to the ground^[] and was booed until the end of the game.^[][][] Several^[] episodes of violence^[] then took place and the game was transformed into a "western".^[][][] After leaving the stadium, the referee was chased for a few kilometres by some^[] Frosinone supporters.^[][][] Cosenza forwarded an appeal and the CAF overturned the result of the match.^[] Frosinone expressed their resentment against the Lega for the injustice suffered and threatened to withdraw from the league.^[] Following this, Frosinone missed the return fixture in Cosenza and other penalties by the Lega were imposed.^[]

The most important^[][] people of this time were the presidents Domenico Ferrante and Angelo Cristofaro (one of the leading figures in the history of the club),^[] a former coach Genta and players Azzoni, Gabriele, Diglio, Dini and Spinato.^[]

1960s–80s

In 1958, U.S. Frosinone was founded, competing in both the Seconda Categoria and Promozione championships.^[] Football returned to Frosinone in 1963 when president Cristofari together with Dante Spaziani and Augusto Orsini, announced the formation of Sporting Club Frosinone.^[] In Serie D, Frosinone always finished among the top positions, and in 1966 won promotion to Serie C after an encounter with Latina.^[] The following year, the canarini were relegated back to Serie D, where in 1967–68 they came third, then fifth and second.^[][][] The leading figures at the club during this period^[] were the Stirpe brothers, coaches De Angelis and Rambone and players Benvenuto, Caputi, Da Col, Del Sette, Fumagalli and Trentini.^[][][]

In 1970–71, Frosinone, under club president Marocco, boasted^[] the national record for the best defence (with goalkeeper Recchia only conceding 8 goals) and again managed promotion to Serie C, where the canarini played out four good^[][] seasons (the best finish was seventh in 1972) and their star^[] player Massimo Palanca entered the football firmament,^[][][] top goalscorer of the central group of Serie C in 1974 and then later was successful^[][] representing Catanzaro in Serie A.^[] From 1975 to 1978 the canarini played in Serie D, reaching promotion to Serie C2 in 1976–77.^[] In 1977–78, Frosinone were again relegated back to Serie D and remained there until 1982.^[] The club's key protagonists of the seventies^[] were the presidents Marocco and Battista, coaches Giuseppe Banchetti and Giuseppe Lupi and players Brunello, Colletti, Dal Din, Santarelli, Masiello, Vescovi and, as mentioned earlier, Massimo Palanca.^[][][] Frosinone started the next decade in the best possible way.^[][][]

In 1980–81, the Canarini were promoted to Serie C2 without losing a game.^[] Among the professionals, Frosinone managed good placements and produced new talent^[] such as Gabbriellini, Perrotti and De Paola.^[] Despite a precarious financial condition, Frosinone, led by president Di Vito and coach Alberto Mari, were promoted to Serie C1.^[]

In 1987–88 season the Canarini played their first season in Serie C1 and finished mid-table.^[] They returned immediately to Serie C2 the next season however, despite a good^[] start.^[][][] Goalkeeper Marco Cari and coach Alberto Mari (later replaced by Robotti) were suspended for a football related betting offence.^[] Among the most important players during the 1980s^[] were Davato, Atzori, Di Liso, Cristiano, Bellini, Perrotti and Edoardo Artistico Poli,^[][] who then began an enviable^[][] football career.^[]

Bankruptcy and return to Serie C

In the summer of 1990, having missed out on promotion to C1 by just three points, Frosinone was removed from the Italian Football Federation because of their financial state.^[] When it seemed likely^[] that they would return to the Promozione division, the club was placed in the Interregionale, where it remained for four years.^[]

In 1993–94, after the championship was almost completed, the Canarini ("the canaries") were overtaken by both Giulianova and Albanova, and were relegated, but they were reinstated to Serie C after the season ended.^[]

In 1996, the club gained a mid-table placing in Serie C2, and was leading in Girone C of C2, but on the last day of the championship Frosinone was defeated by Benevento and was overtaken in the table by Avezzano.^[] They also lost in the play-offs, being beaten in the semi-final by Albanova.^[] They then played out three consecutive mediocre^[][] seasons.^[] They survived the first two, in play-offs against Casertana and Albanova, but in the third year Frosinone was defeated by Tricase and relegated.^[]

In Serie D, Frosinone finished fifth in 2000, while in their second year in Serie D the team was involved in an exciting^[][] head-to-head battle^[] with A.C. Martina of Apulia.^[] In the end they finished second, but with an impressive^[][] 81 points.^[] Under president Navarra and coaches Luca and Stefano Sanderra, the team returned to Serie C2.^[]

In their first two championships back in C2, Frosinone were managed by five different tacticians.^[] After a good start,^[] the team seemed able^[] to reach the play-offs, however finished mid-table.^[] In 2003, the club was taken over by a group of entrepreneurs led by Maurizio Stirpe, son of Benito, a former president of the club back in the sixties.^[]

Stirpe called Enrico Graziani to Frosinone as a general director.^[] Graziani had already worked at Teramo, gaining the Abruzzese club promotion to C1.^[] The managerial position was entrusted to Giorgini, who had spent the previous season with Serie C2 side Brindisi.^[] After an average start to the season,^[] Giorgini was replaced by Daniele Arrigoni, former coach of Messina and Palermo in Serie B.^[]

With an already strong side,^[] including players such as Arno, Vitali, Dario Rossi, Gianluca and Stefano De Angelis, Manca, Tatomir, Galuppi and the goalkeeper de Juliis,^[] being improved in the transfer market, adding quality^[][] players such as De Cesare, Aquino and Buonocorre.^[][][] Much expectation was placed upon Enrico Buonocorre, but the trequartista live up to them.^[][][] He did however, score a crucial^[][][][] free kick in the match against Castel Di Sangro.^[]

The team performed well^[] in 2003–04 Serie C2 season, fighting for supremacy^[] near the top of the table with Brindisi.^[] The two teams will take turns to occupy first place until the very end of the season.^[][] On the final day, Frosinone, with a point less than Brindisi, travelled to Melfi, while Brindisi faced a tough^[][] trip away to Sicilian club Igea Virtus.^[] Both Melfi and Igea were in the running for a place in the play-offs, leaving it all to play for^[] in these two clashes.^[][] Frosinone beat Melfi thanks to a great^[][] goal by Ciro De Cesare, while Brindisi failed to^[] beat Igea.^[]

Frosinone were now^[] back in Serie C1 for the first time in sixteen years.^[] The 2003–04 season is remembered^[] not only for the historic^[][] promotion back to C1, but also victories in the derby with Latina, with whom there is a heated rivalry.^[] Frosinone won both matches 1–0, with goal^[] from Manca away and Aquino scoring at home.^[]

Upon their return to C1, which saw them travel to such historic^[] cities as Cremona, Mantua, and Pisa,^[] Frosinone appointed Dino Pagliari as coach, while the likes of^[] Salvatore Mastronunzio, Di Deo (later sold to Ternana in B), Molinari, Nicola Pagani, Mauro Zaccagnini, goalkeeper Zappino, promoted,^[][][] Alfredo Cariello, Davide D'Antoni, Francesco Mocarelli, Antonio Di Nardo, Michele Ischia were all signed to bolster the playing squad.^[][] Famous^[][] men who have played for Frosinone include the sport commentator Sandro Ciotti.^[]

The season saw Frosinone go through highs and lows,^[][] in the end finishing fifth and reaching the play-offs, where they were eliminated by Mantova.^[]

Serie B

In the following season, 2005–06, Frosinone were coached by Ivo Iaconi, who had offers from two Serie B teams, Fermana and Pescara, yet opted to manage the Canarini.^[]

Several players were signed to help the club in their push for promotion including Ciro Ginestra, Stefano Bellè, Jimmy Fialdini, Paolo Antonioli, Massimo Perra, Marco Martini, Marco Ogliari and Giuseppe Anaclerio.^[][]

Despite the presence of fallen giant^[][] and former Scudetto winners Napoli in the league, Frosinone emerged as strong challengers.^[] They began the season well, with a 4–1 victory at Perugia.^[]

Frosinone continued their strong form right throughout the championship, finally finishing second behind Napoli and favourites to win the play-offs.^[] Their first opponents were Tuscan side Sangiovannese, who had finished fifth.^[] Both matches ended scoreless and Frosinone progressed to the final by virtue of their higher placed finish in the league.^[]

In the final they met another team from Tuscany, Grosseto, drawing 0–0 at home and winning 1–0 away thanks to a goalkeeping error.^[] For the first time ever, Frosinone were promoted to Serie B.^[]

For their first season at Serie B level, the club made several signings to keep the team competitive.^[] They included Massimo Margiotta, Francesco Lodi, Lucas Rimoldi and Fabio Di Venanzio.^[] Meanwhile, work began on restructuring the Stadium Matusa, whose capacity was increased from 5,000 to almost 10,000 seats.^[]

The first game of the season was a 1–0 loss away at the Stadio Nereo Rocco against Triestina.^[] This was followed by draws at home against Spezia and Arezzo and another away defeat at Rimini.^[] Their first victory came away from home at the Stadio Romeo Menti against Vicenza.^[] It^[] finished 2–1 with goals from Margiotta and Di Nardo.^[]

Among the most important victories^[] of the season were the 2–1 wins against Bologna and Lecce and the thrilling^[] 1–0 win against Bari, where the goalkeeper Zappino saved a penalty.^[] On 28 October 2006, Frosinone met giants^[] Juventus. A goal from Alessandro Del Piero (his 200th for Juve) decided the game, however the Frusinati returned home with their heads held high.^[][]

The season concluded with a draw against Modena, and Frosinone finished 13th, a more than satisfactory^[] position for their debut season.^[]

The Canarini improved on this during their second Serie B season, finishing 10th in 2007–08, and for much of the season were in real^[][] contention for a play-off place and a highly unlikely^[][] promotion to Serie A.^[]

On 21 May 2011, the club was relegated from Serie B to Lega Pro Prima Divisione after finishing bottom of the table.^[]

From third tier to Serie A

On 7 June 2014, Frosinone, under the guidance of head coach Roberto Stellone, was promoted from Lega Pro Prima Divisione to Serie B after winning the playoff 1–1, 3–1 (4–2 aggregate) against Lecce.^[]

In the 2014–15 Serie B season, Frosinone quickly emerged as a surprise package^[] for a Serie A spot, fighting against more renowned^[] teams such as Vicenza and Bologna for a top flight place.^[] On 16 May 2015, Frosinone won automatic promotion after a 3–1 home win against Crotone, six points ahead of third-placed Bologna with only one game remaining; this meant the club would make its first Serie A appearance in the 2015–16 season.

Frosinone's maiden Serie A campaign began in a difficult style,^[] losing their first four outings^[] and dropping to bottom place in the table.^[] In Round 5, the club came up against Italian football heavyweights^[] Juventus at the Juventus Stadium. Defying all odds,^[] Frosinone came away with a first ever Serie A point, thanks to an equalising last minute Leonardo Blanchard header, to end the match in a 1–1 draw.^[] The following round, Frosinone achieved their first Serie A win, defeating Empoli 2–0 at the Stadio Matusa.^[] Frosinone achieved their second and third consecutive home wins by beating Sampdoria by the same scoreline as in the Empoli game, and then they beat fellow newly promoted side Carpi 2–1.^[] Frosinone Calcio were relegated back to Serie B after one season in Serie A as they finished in 19th place.

On 29 May 2017, Frosinone lost the semifinal promotion playoff against Carpi, remaining in Serie B.^[]

On 16 June 2018, Frosinone was promoted to Serie A for the second time in their history, defeating Palermo 2–0 at home to win 3–2 on aggregate in the promotion play-off finals after a 2–1 loss in the first leg. They were relegated back to Serie B after one season at top level.^[] In their first season back in Serie B, Frosinone missed out on promotion after losing in the playoff final to Spezia.

On 25 May 2019, Frosinone was relegated again after having a bad season,^[] and on their last matchday they tied 0–0 against ChievoVerona.^[]

On 19 May 2023, after four years of playing in Serie B, Frosinone were promoted to Serie A after being leaders of Serie B, and winning 3–2 against Ternana on their last matchday, and even^[] beating Napoli 4–0 in the round of 16 of the Coppa Italia.^[]