Serie A 08/09: Newly Promoted Sides, Part 1/3: Chievo, Saturday 28 June 2008

Despite Euro 2008 drawing to a close the football season is still very much open. In fact football is a game that never really sleeps. After the end of the 07/08 league season football fans around the world have been kept entertained with the Champions League Final, European Championships and World Cup Qualifiers. Already the Inter-Toto cup's preliminary stages are in full swing and as we head into summer there is no shortage of football being played around the globe and the inevitable player transfers and rumours that develop now that the Euros are over and clubs can show their cards. It is a fascinating time that builds the hype, expectations and banter ahead of the next season. To compliment this exciting stage of the new season Italy Calcio will be regularly featuring build-up to the 08/09 season, bringing you the lowdown on latest transfers, likely title challengers, players to watch, signings of the summer, the relegation battle, and much much more.

So to kick things off we begin by looking at newly promoted sides from Serie B. Empoli, Parma and Livorno's loss has been Chievo, Bologna and Lecce's gain and we welcome back the three sides to Italy's top tier. It will be strange not seeing Parma in Serie A action but it is a sign of the times that they are a long way off from the team that a lot of supporters grew up knowing in the early 90's and would love for them to bounce back at the first attempt. Livorno and Empoli are two sides with great belief; they battle and are used to a tough fight, so don't expect them to fade into Serie B mid-table obscurity for too long.

Chievo

Fact File

Full name

Associazione Calcio Chievo Verona SrL

Founded

1929

Nicknames

Gialloblu (Yellow and blues), Mussi Volanti(Flying Donkeys), Ceo (Chievo)

Stadium

Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi

07/08 Season

Serie B Champions

Colours

Yellow and blue

After six seasons in the top flight Chievo's time in Serie A came to an end on the final match day of 06/07 season following a 2-0 loss to fellow relegation battlers Catania. A draw would have been enough for the 'Flying Donkeys' to avoid the drop. Instead the defeat at the neutral setting of Bologna, and results elsewhere condemned Chievo back to life in Serie B.

The club looked to bounce back straight away with a push for promotion in 2008, but would have to do so with a rebuilt squad. Relegation saw top players; Franco Semioli, Matteo Brighi, Paolo Sammarco and legend at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, Salvatore Lanna who had been with the club for 11 season, all left in search of Serie A football. Manager Luigi Del Neri also stepped down shortly before being appointed the new boss at Atalanta.

The relatively young and inexperienced Giuseppe Iachini was brought in to take charge of the clubs promotion push and constructed a new squad. This new incarnation of the 'Gialloblu' gelled together quickly and the push for promotion was very much on and with one game to spare they wrapped up the Seire B title and were awarded the "Ali della Vittoria" trophy on the final match day of the season, their first league title of any kind in 14 years.

So after quickly returning for their second stint in the top flight Chievo will be looking to avoid a relegation battle, instead looking for a safe mid table finish. With their recent experience they are the most likely of the newly promoted sides to avoid the drop this season, however you do feel they will need to make some shrewd deals in the transfer market and to bring in some experienced Serie A campaigners.

This summer may see veteran Inter goalkeeper Francesco Toldo join, although nothing has been finalised. They will also be hoping to keep hold of star striker and captain Sergio Pellissier (above), who netted 22 times last year, and strike partner Victor Obinna, who has attracted interest from Roma. Keep an eye out for young midfielder Simone Bentivoglio, who broke into the first team last year.

Puds