During the 1978–79 season A.C. Perugia competed in Serie A and Coppa Italia.
| 1978-79 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Perugia players celebrate after a goal | ||||
| Chairman | Franco D'Attoma | |||
| Manager | Ilario Castagner | |||
| Stadium | Renato Curi | |||
| Serie A | 2nd (in UEFA Cup) | |||
| Coppa Italia | Quarterfinals | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: Speggiorin (9) All: Speggiorin (11) | |||
| Average home league attendance | 20 984[1] | |||
Summary edit
A.C. Perugia was the first team during the round-robin era to go through the season undefeated, although due to their 19 drawn matches, they finished second in the league.
The campaign is best recalled as Perugia and the undefeated season of miracles. The Grifoni, displaying the prowess of the gryphon – the legendary beast their nickname is derived from – produced a feat never before achieved at the highest level of Italian football: going a season undefeated.
'Never loses, but does not win' is an ill-thought barb often stabbed at this particular Perugia team's fate, and like so many such disparaging comments, although there is an element of truth in it, there also a substantial amount of bitterness from the tifosi of the more established powers in the game that their team did not achieve such a record.[2]
With just six games of the season remaining, the unlikely title challengers sat just two points behind leaders Milan and still had to host the Rossoneri after gaining a 1–1 draw away earlier in the campaign. A win could have ensured that Perugia put themselves in pole position in the run-in. However, despite being cheered on by an immensely intimidating atmosphere, the game finished 1–1, with Gianfranco Casarsa's spot kick cancelling out Stefano Chiodi's penalty for Milan minutes earlier. This result meant that the title was Milan's to lose.
Despite disappointing draws away to Catanzaro and Hellas Verona in the weeks that followed, Perugia were still in with a chance of final day success providing that Milan lost and Perugia picked up the win away to Bologna.
Although Salvatore Bagni's brace put the visitors ahead and had their fans dreaming once more, Bologna rallied and fought to a 2–2 draw. This result brought an end to the fairytale, but still meant that against the odds, Perugia had mustered a title challenge and ended the season without once tasting defeat.[3]
Squad edit
[4]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Transfers edit
| In | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | from | Type |
| DF | Mauro Della Martira | Fiorentina | |
| MF | Cesare Butti | Torino | |
| MF | Giorgio Redeghieri | Parma | |
| FW | Marco Cacciatori | Carrarese | |
| FW | Gianfranco Casarsa | Fiorentina | |
Competitions edit
Serie A edit
League table edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milan (C) | 30 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 46 | 19 | +27 | 44 | Qualification to European Cup |
| 2 | Perugia | 30 | 11 | 19 | 0 | 34 | 16 | +18 | 41 | Qualification to UEFA Cup |
| 3 | Juventus | 30 | 12 | 13 | 5 | 40 | 23 | +17 | 37 | Qualification to Cup Winners' Cup |
| 4 | Internazionale | 30 | 10 | 16 | 4 | 38 | 24 | +14 | 36 | Qualification to UEFA Cup |
| 5 | Torino | 30 | 11 | 14 | 5 | 35 | 23 | +12 | 36 |
(C) Champions
Result by round edit
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; P = Postponed; = Leader, 1979–80 European Cup; = 1979–80 UEFA Cup
Matches edit
| 1 October 1978 1 | Perugia | 2-0 | Lanerossi | Perugia |
Bagni  14'Dal Fiume 88' | Report | Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 16,000 Referee: Longhi |
| 8 October 1978 2 | Inter Milan | 1-1 | Perugia | Milan |
| Pasinato 31' | Report | 87' Cacciatori | Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 45,000 Referee: Lattanzi |
| 15 October 1978 3 | Perugia | 1-0 | Fiorentina | Perugia |
| Casarsa 57' (pen) | Report | Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 35000 Referee: Michelotti |
| 22 October 1978 4 | Juventus | 1-2 | Perugia | Torino |
| Cuccureddu 65' | Report | 16' Speggiorin 77' Vannini | Stadium: Comunale Attendance: 38,000 Referee: Barbaresco |
| 29 October 1978 5 | Perugia | 0-0 | Avellino | Perugia |
| Report | Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 20,000 Referee: Menegali |
| 5 November 1978 6 | Atalanta B.C. | 0-2 | Perugia | Bergamo |
| Report | 2', 6' Speggiorin | Stadium: Comunale Referee: Agnolin |
| 12 November 1978 7 | Perugia | 2-0 | Ascoli | Perugia |
| Speggiorin 5' Dal Fiume 60' | Report | Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Referee: Ciulli |
| 19 November 1978 8 | Roma | 0-0 | Perugia | Roma |
| Report | Stadium: Stadio Olimpico Attendance: 65,000 Referee: Casarin |
| 26 November 1978 9 | Perugia | 0-0 | Torino | Perugia |
| Report | Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 26,000 Referee: Bergamo |
| 3 December 1978 10 | Milan | 1-1 | Perugia | Milan |
| Antonelli 62' | [dead link] | 3' Vannini | Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 45 000 Referee: Longhi |
| 10 December 1978 11 | Napoli | 1-1 | Perugia | Napoli |
| Majo 55' | Report | 62' Speggiorin | Stadium: San Paolo Attendance: 60 000 Referee: Lattanzi |
| 17 December 1978 12 | Perugia | 1-0 | Catanzaro | Perugia |
| Speggiorin 61' | Report | Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Referee: Lops |
| 7 January 1979 13 | Perugia | 1-1 | Hellas Verona | Perugia |
| Frosio 54' | Report | 88' Bergamaschi | Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 15 000 Referee: Lanese |
| 14 January 1979 14 | Lazio | 0-0 | Perugia | Roma |
| Report | Stadium: Stadio Olimpico Attendance: 50 000 Referee: Michelotti |
| 21 January 1979 15 | Perugia | 3-1 | Bologna | Perugia |
| Casarsa 25', 68' Speggiorin 58' | Report | 76' (pen) Bordon | Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 12 000 Referee: Lo Bello |
| 28 January 1979 16 | Lanerossi | 1-1 | Perugia | Vicenza |
| Rossi 14' | Report | 25' Bagni | Stadium: Stadio Romeo Menti Referee: Benedetti |
| 4 February 1979 17 | Perugia | 2-2 | Inter Milan | Perugia |
| Vannini 53' Ceccarini 90' | Report | 19' Altobelli 36' Muraro | Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Referee: Longhi |
| 11 February 1979 18 | Fiorentina | 1-1 | Perugia | Firenze |
| Sella 9' | Report | 21' Speggiorin | Stadium: Comunale Attendance: 50 000 Referee: D'Elia |
| 18 February 1979 19 | Perugia | 0-0 | Juventus | Perugia |
| Report | Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 31 224 Referee: Menegali |
| 4 March 1979 20 | Avellino | 0-1 | Perugia | Avellino |
| Report | 82' Bagni | Stadium: Stadio Partenio Attendance: 30 000 Referee: Agnolin |
| 11 March 1979 21 | Perugia | 2-0 | Atalanta | Perugia |
| Osti 16' (o.g.) Bagni 30' | Report | Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 21 000 Referee: Paparesta |
| 18 March 1979 22 | Ascoli | 0-0 | Perugia | Ascoli Piceno |
| Report | Stadium: Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca Attendance: 22 000 Referee: Lattanzi |
| 25 March 1979 23 | Perugia | 1-1 | Roma | Perugia |
| Peccenini 22' (o.g.) | Report | 90' Ugolotti | Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Referee: Barbaresco |
| 1 April 1979 24 | Torino | 0-0 | Perugia | Torino |
| Report | Stadium: Stadio Comunale Attendance: 37 000 Referee: Michelotti |
| 8 April 1979 25 | Perugia | 1-1 | Milan | Perugia |
| Casarsa 17' (pen) | Report | 15' (pen) Chiodi | Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 30 000 Referee: Agnolin |
| 14 April 1979 26 | Perugia | 2-0 | Napoli | Perugia |
| Speggiorin 15' Dal Fiume 64' | Report | Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Referee: Casarin |
| 22 April 1979 27 | Catanzaro | 1-1 | Perugia | Catanzaro |
| R. Rossi 60' | Report | 2' Butti | Stadium: Comunale Attendance: 15 000 Referee: Menegali |
| 29 April 1979 28 | Hellas Verona | 1-1 | Perugia | Verona |
| Guidolin 81' | Report | 47' (o.g.) Gentile | Stadium: Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi Referee: Lattanzi |
| 6 May 1979 29 | Perugia | 2-0 | Lazio | Perugia |
| Bagni 15', 27' | Report | Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 18 000 Referee: Milan |
| 13 May 1979 30 | Bologna | 2-2 | Perugia | Bologna |
| Mastalli 40' Bordon 49' (pen) | Report | 31', 34' Bagni | Stadium: Comunale Attendance: 40 000 Referee: Casarin |
Coppa Italia edit
Group phase edit
| 30 August 1978 2 | Perugia | 2-0 | Pescara | Perugia |
| Speggiorin 49' Piacenti 70' (aut.) | Report | Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Referee: Lanzetti |
| 3 September 1978 3 | Udinese | 1-1 | Perugia | Udine |
| Vriz 83' (pen) | Report | 12' Vannini | Stadium: Stadio Friuli Referee: Panzino |
| 10 September 1978 4 | Perugia | 4-0 | Sambenedettese | Perugia |
| Casarsa 7', 50' (rig.) Goretti 26'Speggiorin 57' | Report | Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Referee: Paparesta |
| 17 September 1978 5 | Avellino | 0-0 | Perugia | Avellino |
| Report | Stadium: Stadio Partenio Attendance: 25 000 Referee: Longhi |
Quarterfinals edit
| 25 April 1979 | Napoli | 2-1 | Perugia | Napoli |
| Tesser 81' Filippi 88' | Report | 54' Dal Fiume | Stadium: Stadio San Paolo Referee: Benedetti |
| 9 May 1979 | Perugia | 0-0 | Napoli | Perugia |
| Report | Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Referee: Bergamo |
Statistics edit
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Players statistics edit
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| GK |  ITA | Malizia | 30 | -17 | 27+1 | -15 | 2 | -2 | |
| DF | ITA | Ceccarini | 35 | 1 | 29 | 1 | 6 | 0 | |
| DF | ITA | Della Martira | 35 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| DF | ITA | Frosio | 28 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
| DF | ITA | Nappi | 25 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| MF | ITA | Dal Fiume | 34 | 4 | 28 | 3 | 6 | 1 | |
| MF | ITA | Bagni | 31 | 8 | 28 | 8 | 3 | 0 | |
| MF | ITA | Butti | 30 | 1 | 26 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
| MF | ITA | Redeghieri | 28 | 0 | 20+3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| FW | ITA | Casarsa | 34 | 6 | 28 | 4 | 6 | 2 | |
| FW | ITA | Speggiorini | 31 | 11 | 26 | 9 | 5 | 2 | |
| GK | ITA | Grassi | 7 | -2 | 3 | -1 | 4 | -1 | |
| DF | ITA | Zecchini | 16 | 0 | 8+6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| DF | ITA | Tacconi | 4 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| MF | ITA | Vannini | 21 | 4 | 17 | 3 | 4 | 1 | |
| MF | ITA | Goretti | 18 | 1 | 9+3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
| FW | ITA | Cacciatori | 18 | 1 | 7+7 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
| GK | ITA | Mancini | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| DF | ITA | Dall'Oro | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| GK | ITA | Balducci | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| GK | ITA | Redomi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Attendance Statistics of Serie A - 1974-75 to 1985-86".
- ^ Gary Thacker (25 July 2018). "Perugia and the undefeated season of miracles". thesefootballtimes.co.
- ^ P.Whelan (9 May 2012). "Great Calcio Sides :Perugia". forzaitalianfootball.com.
- ^ Panini, 1978, pp. 50-51
- ^ Panini (1977). Presenze e reti (in Italian). p. 8..
- ^ Panini (1978). Presenze e reti (in Italian). p. 8..
- Arrigo Beltrami, Almanacco illustrato del Calcio 1980, Franco Cosimo Panini Editore Modena 1979
- Marco Sappino (2000), Dizionario del calcio italiano, 2000, Baldini & Castoldi Milano, ISBN 88-8089-862-0
External links edit
- Maurizio Mariani (26 October 2000). "Italy Championship 1978/79".