Bologna FC 1909
Italian football team.
Bologna Football Club 1909, commonly known as Bologna, is a professional Italian football club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna. Founded in 1909, Bologna is one of the most historically successful clubs in Italian football, with a rich tradition and a significant place in the annals of Serie A. The team plays its home matches at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, which has a capacity of over 30,000 spectators.
Bologna's colors are red and blue, earning them the nickname "I Rossoblu" (The Red and Blues). Their traditional home kit consists of red and blue vertical stripes. The club's emblem features a golden shield with a red and blue background, displaying the letters 'BFC' and the year of foundation.
Throughout its history, Bologna has been one of Italy's most successful clubs, particularly in the pre-World War II era. The club has won seven Serie A titles, with their first coming in 1924-25 and their most recent in 1963-64. They have also claimed two Coppa Italia trophies and one Intertoto Cup. Bologna's golden age came in the late 1920s and 1930s when they won five of their seven Scudetti.
Bologna has a strong European pedigree, having competed in various UEFA competitions over the years. Their most notable European achievement came in 1932 when they won the Mitropa Cup, a predecessor to modern European club competitions.
The club has been home to many legendary players throughout its history. Angelo Schiavio, who played for Bologna in the 1920s and 1930s, is considered one of Italy's greatest ever strikers and was instrumental in the national team's 1934 World Cup victory. Other notable players include Giacomo Bulgarelli, Helmut Haller, and Roberto Baggio, who had a brief but impactful spell with the club in the late 1990s.
Bologna's fortunes have fluctuated in the post-war era. After their last Scudetto in 1964, the club experienced periods of success interspersed with challenges, including several relegations to Serie B. However, Bologna has shown resilience, always managing to return to the top flight and reestablish itself as a Serie A club.
The club has several rivalries, with the most notable being against nearby Fiorentina, in what is known as the Appennine Derby. Under the ownership of Joey Saputo since 2014, Bologna has seen increased financial stability and ambition.