Serie A 08/09: Newly Promoted Sides, Part 3/3: Lecce, Sunday 06 July 2008

Lecce

Fact File

Full name

Unione Sportiva Lecce SpA

Founded

1908

Nicknames

Gillarossi (Yellow-Reds), Salentini (Salenters), Lupi ( The Wolves)

Stadium

Stadio Via Del Mare

07/08 Season

3rd in Serie B, Play-offs winners

Colours

Red and yellow

Lecce have had an untidy history, much of it spent in Serie C with the occasional foray into Serie B. It was not until the mid 80s that the club would finally reach Serie A for the first time. Before this they had folded twice, in the 1920s and then again in the 1930s. Their stay in Serie A was short lived, being relegated in their debut season and since then the club has bounced back and forth between Serie A and B, struggling in the top flight and never really establishing themselves there for any real length of time.

Having come through the lottery of the Serie B playoffs, this season they will aim to survive the drop and go on to build Serie A foundations, slowly working their way up the league. They boasted the best goal difference and defence in Serie B, making them a tough side to beat, finishing only two points behind Chievo.

They also have a well balanced squad that could probably use a bit of investment, as this summer has seen only two sigings thus far, Feltscher from Grasshoppers and Giacomazzi from Empoli. Look out for goalkeeper Francesco Benussi to return from Siena after being there on loan. It will be a long hard season for the Gillarossi but if they can get off to a reasonable start then they may just be able to escape the drop.

Verdetto

At this stage it would seem champions Chievo are the strongest of the teams coming back to Serie A; they will take confidence from having taken the Serie B title, and motivation will be as high as ever. Their recent Serie A experience will help them establish themselves once again and following on from what we saw last season there are still a number of potentially weak sides down the bottom of the league. Bologna and Lecce will definatly be fighting for survival all season. Lecce, having the edge with their current crop of players, may just survive, but it is more than likely that one if not both sides are relegated at the end of their first season back.

Puds