Virtus Francavilla Calcio

For clubs with similar names, see Francavilla Calcio.

Virtus Francavilla Calcio, commonly known as Virtus Francavilla, is an Italian football club based in Francavilla Fontana, Apulia. They currently play in Serie C, the third tier of Italian football.

Virtus Francavilla

Full name	Virtus Francavilla Calcio
Founded	2007
Ground	Stadio Giovanni Paolo II, Francavilla Fontana, Italy
Capacity	2,137
Chairman	Antonio Magrì
Manager	Alberto Colombo
League	Serie D
2023–24	Serie C Group C, 18th of 20 (relegated)
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours

History

The historic Francavilla Calcio

The historic Francavilla Calcio was founded in 1946 with the name of A.S. Francavilla, and it has always played regional leagues. In 2006 it was renamed A.S.D. Francavilla Calcio^[1] In the season 2010–11, was relegated from Serie D group H to the Eccellenza Apulia.

Foundation

The new club was founded in 2007 under the name of Salento Francavilla. It has assumed its present name after the merger at the end of the 2013/2014 season with the historic Francavilla Calcio.^[2] In that year it won the Eccellenza Apulia championship coming back in Serie D.

From Serie D to Lega Pro

In the season 2014–15 the team was promoted for the first time, from Eccellenza Apulia to Serie D. At the end of the 2015–16 Serie D, the team was promoted in the 2016–17 Lega Pro. For the first time in its history, the team reached a professional league, the third highest football division of Italy.^[3]

Colours and badge

The club's main colours of their badge and kit are blue and white.

Current squad

As of 1 February 2024.^[4]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  ITA Francesco Carretta 3 DF  ITA Davide De Marino (on loan from Juventus) 4 DF  ITA Fabio Gavazzi (on loan from Vis Pesaro) 5 DF  ARG Juan Cruz Monteagudo 6 DF  ITA Andrea Gasbarro 7 MF  ITA Kevin Biondi 8 MF  ITA Tommaso Di Marco (on loan from Torino) 9 FW  ITA Gabriele Artistico 10 FW  ITA Alessandro Polidori 11 FW  ITA Samuele Neglia (on loan from Cerignola) 12 GK  ITA Igor Lucatelli (on loan from Benevento) 14 DF  CRO Ivo Molnar 15 DF  ROU Eduard Duțu (on loan from Fiorentina) 17 MF  ITA Francesco Carella 18 FW  ITA Gianluca Contini (on loan from Cagliari)

No. Pos. Nation Player 19 MF  ITA Nicolas Izzillo 20 MF  ITA Vittorio Agostinelli (on loan from Fiorentina) 21 MF  ITA Andrea Risolo 22 GK  ITA Francesco Forte (on loan from Monterosi) 23 DF  ITA Simone Nicoli 25 FW  ITA Simone Serio 27 MF  MAR Mohamed Laaribi 29 FW  ITA Angelo Vapore 30 MF  ITA Federico Macca (on loan from Virtus Entella) 40 DF  ITA Andrea Accardi 50 DF  ITA Gabriele Ingrosso 70 MF  ITA Cassio Cardoselli 72 DF  ITA Marco Fekete 89 GK  ITA Paolo Branduani 99 MF  ITA Vincenzo Garofalo

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  ITA Diego Negro (at Teramo until 30 June 2024) — MF  ITA Giuseppe Fornito (at Pro Sesto until 30 June 2024)

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  ITA Mattia Latagliata (at Nardò until 30 June 2024) — FW  ITA Giuseppe Giovinco (at Fermana until 30 June 2024)

Honours

• Coppa Italia Dilettanti
  • Champions (1): 2014–15

References

1. (in Italian) Info at the FIGC website, August 2006
2. (in Italian) Info at virtusfrancavillacalcio.it
3. (in Italian) 2016–17 Lega Pro season of Virtus Francavilla
4. "Virtus Francavilla squad". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 September 2022.

External links

• (in Italian) Virtus Francavilla official website