Unione Sportiva Catanzaro 1929, Since then, the club has primarily competed in the lower divisions of the national competitions and has been re-founded twice, once in 2006 and again in 2011, both for financial reasons.
Since its foundation, the official colours of the club have been red and yellow. The team has used these colours predominantly in their kits, frequently playing in either all-red kits with yellow trims or in red and yellow stripes. The club's official emblem is the golden eagle, in honour of the city's coat of arms. The team plays its home matches at the Stadio Nicola Ceravolo, which was built in 1919 and is the oldest sports facility in Calabria.
In its history, Catanzaro has played seven seasons in Serie A, five of which were consecutive. The best performance in Serie A was a seventh place finish in 1981–82 and an eighth-place finish in 1980–81.
The club has won seven championships since its foundation. Six of these were in the third tier (one in Prima Divisione, two in Serie C, and three in Serie C1). The final championship was won in IV Serie in 1953. This year, the club was also national title holders after winning the Scudetto IV Serie. At youth level, the club won the Dante Berretti Trophy of Serie C in 1991–1992.
In the Coppa Italia, Catanzaro's best results were runners-up in 1965–66, and semi-finalists in 1978–79 and 1981–82.
On 30 May 2018, the club, which had already used the historic logo since 2011, announced the return of the old name "Unione Sportiva Catanzaro", with the final addition of "1929".
History
Origins to pre-World War II
The club was initially founded by the merger of two local teams (la Braccini and la Scalfaro) as Unione Sportiva Catanzarese in 1927, but due to the relegation of Pomezia to last place, the club was saved from relegation.
On 18 July 2011 the club was excluded by the Federal Council from Lega Pro Seconda Divisione, but on 27 July 2011 the club won its appeal to Tnas and be permitted to play in the 2011–12 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.
Catanzaro Calcio 2011 / U.S. Catanzaro 1929 (2011–present)
On 30 June 2011 the company Catanzaro Calcio 2011 acquired permanently the company branch of the bankrupt F.C. Catanzaro, following the cancellation of the previous club's registration because of financial troubles.
On 6 August 2011, the company purchased the historical brand and logo of U.S. Catanzaro. and was replaced by Vivarini. The team had an immediate response with two wins and drew 1–1 away to Padova in the Coppa Italia Serie C semi-final. On the return leg at home, Catanzaro lost 0–1 and Padova went on to become eventual winners of the cup. Catanzaro continued to pick up points and finished the season strongly in second for a consecutive season, gaining direct entry into the quarter-final promotion playoffs. There they defeated Monopoli 3–1 on aggregate to once again find themselves matched up again Padova in the semi-finals. Unfortunately, they were unable to progress through to final as they lost 2–1 on aggregate.
In the 2022–23 season, Catanzaro returned to Serie B after 17 years, securing promotion with a 2–0 victory over Gelbison on Matchweek 33 and going on to win the Group C title. In the 2025–26 season, Catanzaro reached the promotion play-off final against Monza, with the tie ending 2–2 on aggregate. However, Monza secured promotion to Serie A due to their higher finish in the regular-season standings, while Catanzaro remained in Serie B.
Stadium, Colours and badge
<big>Stadium</big>
Catanzaro plays out of Stadio Nicola Ceravolo, which was built in 1919 and is the oldest sports facility in Calabria.
<big>Colours</big>
The team's colours, since foundation, are red and yellow, just as the whole city
The most used uniform in the eighty years of history of the Aquile is the solid red one, with the yellow V collar with red shorts and socks with yellow edges.
Those pairings have accompanied the Calabrians in the golden years of the Serie A and therefore are the most dear to the Catanzaro environment. Equally used was the vertical striped yellow and red shirt with red shorts and socks with yellow edges, especially in the post-failure years of 2006.
Most rarely Catanzaro has used a shirt with yellow and red horizontal stripes. However, this uniform was used by the Calabrians in the historic match in Turin, won against Juventus, in the 1965-66 Coppa Italia, which was to launch the Catanzaro in the final, then lost against the lilies of Florence.
For the away shirt, the most used is completely blue with references to the Giallorossi, but also completely white or yellow seals were worn.
Occasionally le Aquile, have also used a third uniform which, depending on the color of the home squad, could be either blue or white or yellow. Same for the fourth currency
<big>Badges</big>
The corporate coat of arms consists of a shield in which stands the historic symbol of Catanzaro, the Golden eagle, faithfully taken from the city's coat of arms, which holds a blue ribbon on its beak bearing the motto Sanguinis effusione, motivated by the losses reported in various battles by the Catanzaro fighters.
On the belly of the eagle takes place a shield that reproduces the three hills on which the city stands. A vertical line splits the emblem in two, so as to allow the insertion of the team's social colors, which is completed by the name of the company, placed at the top on a blue background.
Derbies and rivalries
Catanzaro has competed against other regional Calabrian teams throughout the professional competitions of Italian football. These derbies include:
- Cosenza – Calabria Derby (Derby della Calabria) – this is the most historic of all derbies in Calabria, with the first meeting in Serie B taking place in 1946. The history of these two sides dates all the way back to 1912 when Cosenza met one of the forerunner club's of Catanzaro. Their first official match was in 1930 in Serie C (or the Prima Divisione as it was then known). Overall, the sides have met 54 times, with 21 Catanzaro wins, 24 draws, and 9 Cosenza wins.
- Reggina – The Classic (U-classicu) – with Catanzaro as Calabria's capital and Reggio Calabria the region's largest city, this match has had a special meaning to the area. The first meeting was also in the 1930–31 Prima Divisione. This contest has had the most Serie B meetings of all Calabrian derbies with 20 matches, the first of which was in 1965. It is also the only derby involving Catanzaro in which the Coppa Italia was contested (on one occasion). Out of the 62 matches, Catanzaro has won 20 times, there have been 20 draws, and Reggina has won 24 times.
- Crotone – The former Province of Catanzaro Derby (Derby dell'ex provincia di Catanzaro) – Prior to 1992, the Province of Crotone was a part of the Province of Catanzaro, which is where the name of this derby comes from. The teams however, only met for the first time in Serie B in 2004–05 season and then again in the 2005–06 season. They have spent seven seasons together in Serie C and one season in Serie C2. They have also met four times in Coppa Italia Serie C but never in the Coppa Italia. Whilst both teams have participated in Serie A, it has never been in the same season. The overall head-to-head for this meeting is Catanzaro 8 wins, 11 draws, and 9 Crotone wins from 28 games.
Players
Current squad
Out on loan
Technical staff
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Position
!Staff
|-
| Head coach || Alberto Aquilani
|-
| Assistant coach || Cristian Agnelli
|-
| Technical assistant || Luigi Falcone <br/> Giorgio Lucenti <br/> Raffaele Talotta
|-
| Match analyst || Alessandro Rubichini
|-
| Fitness coach || Fabrizio Tafani <br/> Antonio Raione
|-
| Rehab coach || Fabrizio Besso
|-
| Goalkeeper coach || Fabrizio Lorieri
|-
| Team manager || Antonino Scimone
|-
| Head of medical staff || Dr. Massimo Iera
|-
| Social physician || Dr. Maurizio Caglioti
|-
| Massage therapist || Bruno Berardocco
|-
| Physiotherapist || Riccardo Leone
|-
| Healthcare worker || Carlo Scalzo
|-
| Osteopath || Felisiano Villani
|-
| Nutritionist || Luigi Gimigliano
|-
| Kitman || Giuseppe Aiello <br/> Emanuele Celi <br/> Ivan Prudente
|}
Hall of fame
Below is a list of players inducted into the Catanzaro Hall of Fame
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:40%"
|-
! Player !! Role !! Years
|-
| style="text-align:left"| Adriano Banelli || Player <hr/> Manager || 1967–79 <hr/> 1992–93, 1993, 1996
|-
| style="text-align:left"| Edi Bivi || Player || 1981–84
|-
| style="text-align:left"| Gianni Bui || Player || 1965–67
|-
| style="text-align:left"| Giovanni Improta || Player <hr/> Manager || 1975–79 <hr/> 1993–95
|-
| style="text-align:left"| Saverio Leotta || Player <hr/> Manager || 1952–55 <hr/> 1972–73, 1980, 1983, 1994–95
|-
| style="text-align:left"| Angelo Mammì || Player || 1970–72
|-
| style="text-align:left"| Massimo Mauro || Player || 1979–82
|-
| style="text-align:left"| Massimo Palanca || Player || 1974–81, 1986–90
|}
Presidential history
Below is a presidential history list of Catanzaro, from when they were founded in 1927, until the present day.
<div style="font-size:100%">
{|
|width="10"|
|valign="top"|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="1"|Name
!rowspan="1"|Years
|-
|align=left|Antonio Susanna
|align=left|1927–1928
|-
|align=left|Enrico Talamo
|align=left|1928–1937
|-
|align=left|Arnaldo Pugliese
|align=left|1937–1944
|-
|align=left|Italo Paparazzo
|align=left|1944–1945
|-
|align=left|Umberto Riccio
|align=left|1945–1946
|-
|align=left|Giuseppe Zamboni Pesci
|align=left|1946–1948
|-
|align=left|Gino Guarnieri
|align=left|1948–1950
|-
|align=left|Aldo Ferrara
|align=left|1950–1958
|-
|align=left|Nicola Ceravolo
|align=left|1958–1979
|-
|align=left|Adriano Merlo
|align=left|1979–1984
|-
|align=left|Giuseppe Albano
|align=left|1984–1995
|-
|align=left|Giuseppe Soluri
|align=left|1995–1999
|-
|}
|width="30"|
|valign="top"|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="1"|Name
!rowspan="1"|Years
|-
|align=left|Giovanni Mancuso
|align=left|1999–2003
|-
|align=left|Domenico Cavallaro
|align=left|2003
|-
|align=left|Claudio Parente
|align=left|2003–2006
|-
|align=left|Bernardo Colao
|align=left|2006
|-
|align=left|Domenico Cavallaro
|align=left|2006
|-
|align=left|Giancarlo Pittelli
|align=left|2006–2008
|-
|align=left|Pasquale Bove
|align=left|2008–2009
|-
|align=left|Antonio Aiello
|align=left|2009–2010
|-
|align=left|Maurizio Ferrara
|align=left|2010–2011
|-
|align=left|Giuseppe Santaguida
|align=left|2011
|-
|align=left|Giuseppe Cosentino
|align=left|2011–2017
|-
|align=left|Floriano Noto
|align=left|2017–
|-
|}
|}
</div>
Managerial history
<div style="font-size:100%">
{|
|width="15"|
|valign="top"|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; float:left"
|-
! Name
! Nationality
! Years
|-
|align=left|Dino Baroni
|
|align=left|1928–1931
|-
|align=left|Géza Kertész
|
|align=left|1931–1933
|-
|align=left|Heinrich Schoenfeld (R1–11) <br />* Yuri Koszegi (R12–26)
|<br />
|align=left|1933–1934
|-
|align=left|Yuri Koszegi
|
|align=left|1934–1936
|-
|align=left|Remo Migliorini (R1–?)<br/>* Heinrich Schoenfeld (R?–30)
|<br/>
|align=left|1936–1937
|-
|align=left|Walter Colombati
|
|align=left|1937–1938
|-
|align=left|Riccardo Mottola
|
|align=left|1938–1939<br/>1945–1946
|-
|align=left|Pietro Piselli
|
|align=left|1946–1947
|-
|align=left|Gastone Boni<br />* Euro Riparbelli
|
|align=left|1947–1948
|-
|align=left|Luciano Robotti<br />* Euro Riparbelli & Pasquali Ripepe
|
|align=left|1948–1949
|-
|align=left|Euro Riparbelli
|
|align=left|1949–1952
|-
|align=left|Orlando Tognotti
|
|align=left|1952–1956
|-
|align=left|Renato Bottacini (R1–16)<br />* Vitoro Maschi & Pasquali Ripepe (R17–34)
|
|align=left|1956–1957
|-
|align=left|Piero Pasinati
|
|align=left|1957–1960
|-
|align=left|Piero Pasinati (R1–16, 18)<br />* Enzo Dolfin (R17, 19–38)
|
|align=left|1960–1961
|-
|align=left|Bruno Arcari (R1–29)<br />* Enzo Dolfin (R30–38)
|
|align=left|1961–1962
|-
|align=left|Enzo Dolfin
|
|align=left|1962–1963
|-
|align=left|Leandro Remondini
|
|align=left|1963–1965
|-
|align=left|Dino Ballacci
|
|align=left|1965–1966
|-
|align=left|Carmelo Di Bella
|
|align=left|1966–1967
|-
|align=left|Luciano Lupi
|
|align=left|1967–1968
|-
|align=left|Luciano Lupi (R1–22)<br />* Umberto Sacco (R23–38)
|
|align=left|1968–1969
|-
|align=left|Dino Ballacci
|
|align=left|1969–1970
|-
|align=left|Gianni Seghedoni
|
|align=left|1970–1972
|-
|align=left|Renato Lucchi (R1–25)<br />* Saverio Leotta (R25–38)
|
|align=left|1972–1973
|-
|align=left|Gianni Seghedoni (R1–15)<br />* Carmelo Di Bella (R15–38)
|
|align=left|1973–1974
|-
|align=left|Gianni Di Marzio
|
|align=left|1974–1977
|-
|align=left|Giorgio Sereni
|
|align=left|1977–1978
|-
|align=left|Carlo Mazzone
|
|align=left|1978–1979
|-
|align=left|Carlo Mazzone (R1–25)<br />* Saverio Leotta (R25–30)
|
|align=left|1979–1980
|-
|align=left|Tarcisio Burgnich
|
|align=left|1980–1981
|-
|align=left|Bruno Pace
|
|align=left|1981–1982
|-
|align=left|Bruno Pace (R1–15)<br />* Saverio Leotta (R16–30)
|
|align=left|1982–1983
|-
|align=left|Mario Corso (R1–9)<br />* Antonio Renna (R10–38)
|
|align=left|1983–1984
|-
|align=left|Giovan Battista Fabbri
|
|align=left|1984–1985
|-
|align=left|Pietro Santin (R1–20)<br />* Todor Veselinović (R21–38)
|<br />
|align=left|1985–1986
|-
|align=left|Claudio Tobia
|
|align=left|1986–1987
|-
|align=left|Vincenzo Guerini
|
|align=left|1987–1988
|-
|align=left|Tarcisio Burgnich (R1–7)<br />* Gianni Di Marzio (R8–38)
|
|align=left|1988–1989
|-
|align=left|Fausto Silipo (R1–14, 21–38)<br />* Renzo Aldi & Giovan Battista Fabbri (R15–20)
|
|align=left|1989-1990
|-
|align=left|Claudio Sala (R1–6, 16–24)<br />* Francesco Brignani (R7–15)<br />* Gennaro Rambone (R25–34)
|
|align=left|1990–1991
|}
{|
|width="15"|
|valign="top"|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; float:right"
|-
! Name
! Nationality
! Years
|-
|align=left|Gennaro Rambone (R1–20)<br />* Franco Selvaggi (R21–38)
|
|align=left|1991–1992
|-
|align=left|Franco Selvaggi (R1–6)<br />* Adriano Banelli (R7–18, 26–34)<br />* Paolo Dal Fiume (R19–25)
|
|align=left|1992–1993
|-
|align=left|Gianni Improta
|
|align=left|1993–1994
|-
|align=left|Gianni Improta (R1–3)<br />* Enrico Nicolini (R4–26, 29–34)<br />* Saverio Leotta (R27–28)
|
|align=left|1994–1995
|-
|align=left|Mauro Zampollini (R1–5)<br />* Marcello Pasquino (R6–27)<br />* Adriano Banelli (R28–34)
|
|align=left|1995–1996
|-
|align=left|Rino Lavezzini (R1–26, play-off)<br />* Giuseppe Sabadini (R27–34)
|
|align=left|1996–1997
|-
|align=left|Francesco Paolo Specchia (R1–26)<br />* Giuseppe Vuolo (R27–34)
|
|align=left|1997–1998
|-
|align=left|Juan Carlos Morrone
|
|align=left|1998–1999
|-
|align=left|Salvatore Esposito (R1–8)<br />* Fortunato Torrisi (R9–27)<br />* Giuseppe Galluzzo (R26–34)
|
|align=left|1999–2000
|-
|align=left|Agatino Cuttone
|
|align=left|2000–2001
|-
|align=left|Leonardo Bitetto (R1–21)<br />* Massimo Morgia (R22–34)
|
|align=left|2001–2002
|-
|align=left|Franco Dellisanti
|
|align=left|2002–2003
|-
|align=left|Piero Braglia
|
|align=left|2003–2004
|-
|align=left|Piero Braglia (R1–5)<br />* Luigi Cagni (R6–25)<br />* Bruno Bolchi (R26–42)
|
|align=left|2004–2005
|-
|align=left|Sergio Buso (R1–13)<br />* Vincenzo Guerini (R14–24)<br />* Bruno Giordano (R25–37)<br />* Franco Cittadino (R37–42)
|
|align=left|2005–2006
|-
|align=left|Manuele Domenicali
|
|align=left|2006–2007
|-
|align=left|Fausto Silipo (R1–5)<br />* Franco Cittadino (R6–21)<br />* Agatino Cuttone (R22–34)
|
|align=left|2007–2008
|-
|align=left|Nicola Provenza
|
|align=left|2008–2009
|-
|align=left|Gaetano Auteri
|
|align=left|2009–2010
|-
|align=left|Zé Maria (R1–9)<br />* Antonio Aloi (R10–30)
|<br />
|align=left|2010–2011
|-
|align=left|Francesco Cozza
|
|align=left|2011–2012
|-
|align=left|Francesco Cozza (R1–27)<br />* Fulvio D'Adderio (R28–30)
|
|align=left|2012–2013
|-
|align=left|Oscar Brevi
|
|align=left|2013–2014
|-
|align=left|Francesco Moriero (R1–12)<br />* Massimo D’Urso (R13, 38)<br />* Stefano Sanderra (R14–37)
|
|align=left|2014–2015
|-
|align=left|Massimo D’Urso (R1–8)<br/>* Alessandro Erra (R9–34)
|
|align=left|2015–2016
|-
|align=left|Giulio Spader (R1)<br/>* Mario Somma (R2–9)<br/>* Nunzio Zavettieri (R10–25)<br />* Alessandro Erra (R26–play out)
|
|align=left|2016–2017
|-
|align=left|Alessandro Erra (R1–8)<br />* Davide Dionigi (R9–28)<br />* Giuseppe Pancaro (R29–38)
|
|align=left|2017–2018
|-
|align=left|Gaetano Auteri
|
|align=left|2018–2019
|-
|align=left|Gaetano Auteri (R1–10, 23–30)<br />* Gianluca Grassadonia (R11–22)
|
|align=left|2019–2020
|-
|align=left|Antonio Calabro
|
|align=left|2020–21
|-
|align=left|Antonio Calabro (R1–16)<br />* Vincenzo Vivarini (R17–38)
|
|align=left|2021–22
|-
|align=left|Vincenzo Vivarini
|
|align=left|2022–24
|-
|align=left|Fabio Caserta
|
|align=left|2024–25
|-
|align=left|Alberto Aquilani
|
|align=left|2025–present
|}
|}
|}
</div>
<small> * Denotes took over as manager during the season</small>
Honours
Leagues
- Serie B <small>(Level 2)</small>
- Runners-up (2): 1975–76, 1977–78
- Promoted via play-offs (1): 1970–71
- Serie C / Serie C1 <small>(Level 3)</small>
- Winners (6): 1935–36 <small>(Group D)</small>, 1958–59 <small>(Group B)</small>, 1984–85 <small>(Group B)</small>, 1986–87 <small>(Group B)</small>, 2003–04 <small>(Group B)</small>, 2022–23 <small>(Group C)</small>
- IV Serie <small>(Level 4)</small>
- Winners (1): 1952–53
Cups
- Coppa Italia
- Finalists (1): 1965–66
- Semi-finalists (2): 1978–79, 1981–82
- Supercoppa di Serie C
- Winners (1): 2023
- Runners-up (1): 2004
- Scudetto IV Serie
- Winners (1): 1952–53
European
- Cup of the Alps
- Winners (1): 1960
Notes
Competitions
League
{| class="wikitable" style="width:60%; text-align:center;"
|- style="background:red; color:yellow;"
| Level
| League
| Seasons
| Debut
| Last
| Total
|-
| A || Serie A || 7 || 1971–72 || 1982–83 || 7
|- style="background:#e9e9e9;"
| B || Serie B || 29 || 1933–34 || 2023–24 || 29
|-
| rowspan=4|C
| Prima Divisione || 3
| 1930–31 || 1932–33
| rowspan=3|31
|-
| Serie C || 22 || 1935–36 || 2022–23
|-
| Serie C1 || 6 || 1984–85 || 2013–14
|- style="background:#f9f9f9;"
| Serie C2 || 18 || 1991–92 || 2011–12 || 18
|- style="background:#e9e9e9;"
|D
| IV Serie || 1 || colspan=2|1952–53 || 1
|-
|}
; Notes
National Cups
{| class= "wikitable" style="width:60%; text-align:center;"
|- style="background:red; color:yellow;"
| style="width:25%; "| Competition
| style="width:14%; "| Participation
| style="width:18%; "| Debut
| style="width:18%; "| Last season
| style="width:25%; "| Best finish
|-
| Coppa Italia || 45 || 1935–36 || 2022–23
| align=left bgcolor=silver|Runners-Up (1966)
|-
| Coppa Italia Serie C || 31 || 1984–85 || 2022–23
| align=left |Semifinalist (2021–22)
|-
| Supercoppa di Serie C || 2 || 2004 || 2023
| align=left bgcolor=gold|Champions (2023)
|-
| Scudetto di IV Serie || 1 || colspan=2|1952–53
| align=left bgcolor=gold|Champions (1953)
|}
International record
Cup of the Alps
{| class= "wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! Season !! Opposition !! Home !! Away !! Aggregate !! Ref
|-
| 1960
| align=left| SC Brühl
| background=honeydew|5–1 || background=oldlace|0–0 || 5–1 ||
|}
Anglo-Italian Cup
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! Season !! Round !! Opposition !! Home !! Away !! Ref
|-
| 1972 || Group Stage
| align=left| Stoke City
| 0–3 || 0–2 || rowspan=2|
|-
| 1972 || Group Stage
| align=left| Carlisle United || 0–1 || 1–4
|}
Overall Record
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! Competition !! Played !! Won !! Drew !! Lost !! GF !! GA !! GD !! Win %
|-
| align=left|Cup of the Alps
|-
| align=left|Anglo-Italian Cup
|-
! Total
|}