Page 28 - Soccer360 - Issue 103

Italy international Mateo Retegui has joined newly promoted Genoa
Ilario Monterisi (L) of Frosinone celebrates with his teammates after scoring 2-0 goal during the Serie A soccer match between Frosinone Calcio and Atalanta
Frosinone
Genoa
The oldest club in Italy bounced back to the top-flight after placing second in Serie B last season. A record breaking 27,000 fans purchased season tickets with high expectations for the 2023-24 campaign, especially after the high- profile capture of Argentina-born Italian international Mateo Retegui from Boca Juniors, which was seen as something of a coup.
Elsewhere, coach Alberto Gilardino has retained most of the team which sealed promotion and will be optimistic that the Ligurian club can avoid a drop down to the second tier again. Experienced midfielders Kevin Strootman and Milan Badelj will act as leaders in a squad packed with promising young players.
NICKNAME:
Il Grifone (The Griffin) , I Rossoblù (The Red and Blues), Il Vecchio Balordo (The Old Fool)
MANAGER:
Alberto Gilardino
LAST YEAR FINISH:
Serie B, 2nd
World Cup winner Fabio Grosso led I Canarini to the Serie B title last season but was promptly replaced by Eusebio Di Francesco. It could be seen as a risk, as the Pescara-born tactician didn’t last long in his three previous positions at Sampdoria, Cagliari and Hellas Verona and has another tough task on his hands. The club from the Lazio region will be one of the favourites for the drop especially after a number of loan players, including last term’s top scorer Samuele Mulattieri, returned to their parent clubs. Goalkeeper Stefano Turati, who kept 20 clean sheets in the second tier, will be the key player for a club making just their third appearance in Serie A.
NICKNAME:
I Canarini (The Canaries) , I Giallazzurri (The Yellow and Blues), I Ciociari (The Ciociarians)
MANAGER:
Eusebio Di Francesco
LAST YEAR FINISH:
Serie B, 1st
Hellas Verona
The Gialloblu only preserved their place in Italy’s top division after a relegation play-off victory over Spezia last season. Coach Marco Zaffaroni quit and was replaced by Marco Baroni who led Lecce to safety in the previous campaign.
Despite the additions of seasoned midfielder Riccardo Saponara, striker Federico Bonazzoli and Spanish winger Jordi Mboula it could be another arduous campaign for a club which claimed just seven victories in a dismal 2022-23. Skilful Belgian forward Cyril Ngonge and left-sided Scottish wing-back Josh Doig are among a group of young players that Baroni will trust to keep them away from the drop zone.
NICKNAME:
I Gialloblu (The Yellow and Blues)
I Mastini (The Mastiffs) Gli Scaligeri (The Scaligers)
I Butei (“The Boys”, in Venetian)
MANAGER:
Marco Baroni
LAST YEAR FINISH:
Serie A, 18th
Players of Hellas Verona celebrate their victory at the end of the Italian Serie A soccer match Hellas Verona vs AS Roma
Hellas Verona’s head coach Marco Baroni
28 SOCCER360 MAGAZINE
2023-24 SERIE A SEASON PREVIEW