Udinese Calcio

Italian football team.

Udinese Calcio, commonly referred to as Udinese, is a professional football club based in Udine, Italy. Founded on November 30, 1896, Udinese competes in Serie A, the highest division of Italian football. The club is nicknamed "I Friulani," reflecting its regional roots in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Udinese plays its home matches at Dacia Arena (formerly known as Stadio Friuli), which has a capacity of around 25,000 spectators.

Udinese has a long-standing history characterized by periods of success interspersed with challenges. The club won its first major trophy by claiming the Coppa Italia title in 1922 but achieved significant recognition during the late 20th century when they became a regular fixture in Serie A.

The pinnacle of Udinese's success came during the early 2000s under coach Francesco Guidolin when they qualified for European competitions consistently. Their best-ever finish occurred during the 2011-12 season when they secured third place in Serie A and qualified for the UEFA Champions League group stage for only the second time in their history.

In terms of rivalries, Udinese shares intense local rivalries with clubs such as Triestina and Verona-based teams like Chievo Verona and Hellas Verona.

As of the 2023-24 season, Udinese continues to compete actively within Serie A while looking to secure mid-table finishes or challenge for European qualification spots once again.