Frosinone Calcio (Italian pronunciation:[froziˈnoːne]ⓘ) is a professional football club based inFrosinone,Lazio, Italy. The club was founded on 5 March 1906 under the nameUnione Sportiva Frusinate,[2] but conventionally the year 1928 is indicated as the beginning of competitive activities of significant importance. Following cancellation by theItalian Football Federation, it was refounded in 1959 and in 1990. In the2014–15 season the club played inSerie B for the sixth time in its history. The club earned its first promotion to the top flightSerie A in the2015–16 season, but were relegated back down to Serie B after just one season. In the2018–19 season it was promoted to Serie A for a second time. After winning the Serie B championship in the2022–23 season they were promoted to Serie A for a third time.
After a long tradition of playing inSerie C, in recent years, following the historic promotion which took place in the 2005–06 season, the club participated in five consecutive seasons in Serie B, becoming, after the two teams in Rome, the third most notable team of the region of Lazio. In the club's history at a national level, Frosinone have won two championships ofSerie C2 (1986–87 and 2003–04) and two ofSerie D (1965–66 and 1970–71). On 16 May 2015, theCiociari, with a 3–1 win overCrotone, secured their first, historic promotion to Serie A.
"The “Unione Sportiva Frusinate” is established in Frosinone. The association has as its main purpose the diffusion among the younger generations of gymnastic disciplines, fencing, football and athletic sports with the aim of physical and intellectual education of Frosinone youth."
Constitutive Act of the "Unione Sportiva Frusinate", article 1 (5 March 1906)
Frosinone Calcio was founded on 5 March 1906 under the nameUnione Sportiva Frusinate.[2] 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 theLazio, 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.
1906, Statute of the Unione Sportiva Frusinate: social coat of arms and year in Roman letters (MCMVI)
On 14 March 1906Il 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».[3]
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».[4]
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.[5]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 toHannibal's armies. Given the cost of the uniforms of the time, it is unlikely that the rossoblu uniform was worn from the beginning.[citation needed]
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 theGenoa (1893) andMilan (1899)(sports clubs which included "cricket" and "football") but rather the change of name in "CXIX LegioM.V.S.N. Frosinone" and his consequent affiliation to theFIGC which took place over twenty years later, on 19 September1928.
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).
La Gazzetta dello Sport: 28/6/1922, 59º Fanteria-U.S. Frusinate
In fact, even before the change of company name induced by thefascist 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).[6]
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 inLa Gazzetta dello Sport. It reports the description of the match played on 28 June 1922, at theMadonna della Neve football field in Frosinone, between the59 º fanteria Frosinone and theU.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.
One of the first formations of the U.S. Frusinate
Experienced players such asVincenzo Fresia, four-time champion of Italy withPro Vercelli and former number 9 jersey in thenational team were lined up in the latter's row.[7] Who served as a lieutenant in Frosinone in the59th 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.[4]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 colors. After affiliation to the FIGC in 1923 and registration in the IV Lazio Division, in 1925 theUnione Sportiva Frusinate passed the baton to the newSocietà 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,[8] as well as the economic and political expansion that the city underwent following the establishment of thenew province of which it became the capital in1927.[9] 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 namedBellator 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 intoSerie 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 againstCosenza 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 kilometers 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.
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. InSerie D, Frosinone always finished among the top positions, and in 1966 won promotion toSerie C after an encounter withLatina. 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 playerMassimo Palanca entered the football firmament, top goalscorer of the central group of Serie C in 1974 and then later was successful representingCatanzaro inSerie A. From 1975 to 1978 the canarini played inSerie D, reaching promotion toSerie 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.
In the summer of 1990, having missed out on promotion to C1 by just three points, Frosinone was removed from theItalian Football Federation because of their financial state. When it seemed likely that they would return to thePromozione division, the club was placed in the Interregionale, where it remained for four years.
In 1993–94, after the championship was almost completed, theCanarini ("the canaries") were overtaken by bothGiulianova 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 inSerie C2, and was leading in Girone C of C2, but on the last day of the championship Frosinone was defeated byBenevento 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 againstCasertana and Albanova, but in the third year Frosinone was defeated by Tricase and relegated.
InSerie 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 withA.C. Martina ofApulia. In the end they finished second, but with an impressive 81 points. Under president Navarra and coaches Luca and Stefano Sanderra, the team returned toSerie 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 atTeramo, gaining theAbruzzese club promotion to C1. The managerial position was entrusted to Giorgini, who had spent the previous season with Serie C2 sideBrindisi. After an average start to the season, Giorgini was replaced byDaniele Arrigoni, former coach ofMessina andPalermo inSerie 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 againstCastel 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 toMelfi, while Brindisi faced a tough trip away to Sicilian clubIgea 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 inSerie 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 withLatina, 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 asCremona,Mantua, andPisa, Frosinone appointed Dino Pagliari as coach, while the likes ofSalvatore Mastronunzio, Di Deo (later sold toTernana in B), Molinari, Nicola Pagani, Mauro Zaccagnini, goalkeeperZappino, 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 byMantova.
In the following season,2005–06, Frosinone were coached byIvo Iaconi, who had offers from two Serie B teams,Fermana andPescara, 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 formerScudetto winnersNapoli in the league, Frosinone emerged as strong challengers. They began the season well, with a 4–1 victory atPerugia.
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 sideSangiovannese, 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 toSerie B.
For their first season at Serie B level, the club made several signings to keep the team competitive. They includedMassimo Margiotta,Francesco Lodi,Lucas Rimoldi andFabio 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 theStadio Nereo Rocco againstTriestina. This was followed by draws at home againstSpezia andArezzo and another away defeat atRimini. Their first victory came away from home at theStadio Romeo Menti againstVicenza. It finished 2–1 with goals from Margiotta and Di Nardo.
Among the most important victories of the season were the 2–1 wins againstBologna andLecce and the thrilling 1–0 win againstBari, where the goalkeeper Zappino saved a penalty. On 28 October 2006, Frosinone met giantsJuventus. The goal fromAlessandro 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 againstModena, 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 in2007–08, and for much of the season were in real contention for a play-off place and a highly unlikely promotion toSerie A.
In the2014–15 Serie B season, Frosinone quickly emerged as a surprise package for a Serie A spot, fighting against more renowned teams such asVicenza andBologna for a top flight place. On 16 May 2015, Frosinone won automatic promotion after a 3–1 home win againstCrotone, six points ahead of third-placed Bologna with only one game remaining; as such, the club made its firstSerie A appearance ever in the2015–16 season.[10]
Frosinone'smaiden 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 heavyweightsJuventus at theJuventus Stadium. Defying all odds, Frosinone came away with their first ever Serie A point thanks to an equalising last minuteLeonardo Blanchard header to end the match in a 1–1 draw. The following round, Frosinone achieved their first Serie A win, defeatingEmpoli 2–0 at theStadio Matusa. Frosinone went on to pick up their second and third consecutive home wins by beatingSampdoria by the same scoreline as Empoli and fellow newly promoted sideCarpi 2–1. Frosinone Calcio were relegated back to Serie B after one season in Serie A as they finished in 19th place.[11]
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.[12] They were relegated back toSerie 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.[13]
On 25 May 2019, Frosinone was relegated again after having abad season, and on their last matchday they tied 0–0 againstChevo Verona.
After 4 years of remaining in Serie B, on 19 May 2023, Frosinone were promoted to Serie A after being leaders on Serie B, and winning 3–2 againstTernana on they last matchday, and even beatingNapoli 4–0 in the round of 16 of theCoppa Italia. In the2023–24 Serie A season, Frosinone finished 18th on the table and were relegated back to Serie B.[14]
In the2024–25 Serie B season, Frosinone originally placed 16th out of 20th, and thus would've had to play in the relegation play-out against Salernitana. However, following the deduction of points from Brescia due to financial issues, Frosinone were spared from relegation play-out as a result, and placed 15th, allowing them to remain in Serie B.[15][16]
The first social colours of the club were red and blue. Now they are yellow and blue.[17] From the 2007–08 season, the club has amascot called Lillo, represented by a lion, the animal that appears in the coat of arms. The name was chosen by fans of Frosinone with a poll on the club's official website.[18] The mascot accompanies the home team and from the 2008–09 season there is also a chance to be selected, on request, to impersonate Lillo for a game.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Frosinone has always played its home games at the Stadio Comunale di Frosinone, nicknamed theMatusa because of the age of the structure. Founded in what was then the outskirts of the city, today, as a result of the massive urban growth of the city, it is set in the centre of the capital of Frosinone surrounded by several buildings. It has undergone several reconstructions but never related to the foundational structure of the grandstand, which is still the one from the foundation.
Over the years, also depending on the results of the team, it has had different capacities. In 2014 it could accommodate approximately 10,000 spectators.
In the eighties the new Stadio Casaleno began to be built in short distance of the area. The progress, which led to the construction of a grandstand, however, was interrupted as a result of scandals and erroneous projects and led to the temporary decline of the team. For several years projects have been proposed to complete the structure and give Frosinone a new stadium, but the idea, as well as complex bureaucratic loopholes and economic issues, has also seen resistance from many fans who prefer to play in the old historic stadium.
In 2007, in order to unlock the stalemate that concerned the management of the old Matusa and the construction of the new municipal stadium, some fans of the club, as a provocative gesture, put the stadium up for auction oneBay for a singleeuro, though in a few hours the bidding price was over €8 million.[20]
The record of spectators in a game inside of the Matusa dates back to the Serie C1 championship of 1988–89, with about 12,000 spectators for a match againstCampobasso.[21]
Starting from October 2017, Frosinone plays its home games at Benito Stirpe stadium. The record number of spectators at a game inside of the Stirpe in Serie B championship of 2017–2018, was about 16,286 spectators for a match against Foggia.[22]
In November 2017, Frosinone Calcio launched the first ever public mini-bond investment scheme in Italian football via sports investment platform Tifosy.[23] Frosinone Calcio president Maurizio Stirpe mentions that the proceeds of the mini-bond would be used to:
"build the medical center (intended for all those who gravitate around the world of Frosinone Calcio) and the restaurant, both located in the belly of the central grandstand.With the resources that the club aims to collect through crowdfunding the ring around the stadium could also be restructured, with the rebuilding of the flooring, so as to allow citizens who use these spaces to run and train themselves to have a more functional space to these activities".[24]
The Frosinone Bond[25] raised €1,500,000 which was €500,000 over what the club initially thought the bond would raise.[26]
Aversa Estella,Le porte della storia, la grande avventura del Frosinone Calcio, Eraclea, Roma, 2007.
Di Sora Amedeo,C'era una volta un pallone... La storia del calcio frusinate dai primi anni del Novecento ad oggi raccontata da un cronista da stadio, Editrice Frusinate, 2004.
Lisi Luca e Rotondo Federico,Immagini Emozioni... Un anno storico, Modulgraf srl, Pomezia, 2007.
Renna Piergiorgio,Storia del Frosinone Calcio, Edizioni Multimedia, Frosinone, 1994.
Renna Piergiorgio,La Quarta serie negli anni '50, Edizioni Multimedia, Frosinone, 2007.
Renna Piergiorgio,Frosinone 1906/2006 – Serie B come Bellator, Edizioni Multimedia, Frosinone, 2007.
Vigliani Alessandro, "Sembra Impossibile, il romanzo sui tifosi del Frosinone Calcio", Pulp Edizioni, Frosinone 2010.