SSD Città di Acireale 1946
Italian football club based in Acireale, Sicily.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
S.S.D. Città di Acireale 1946 S.r.l., commonly known as Acireale, is an Italian football club based in Acireale, Sicily. The club competes in Serie D, the fourth tier of the Italian football league system, and was established in 1946 as a successor to Società Sportiva Acireale, which folded in 1993. Its golden era came in the 1990s, when it reached Serie B and competed for two consecutive seasons: 1993–94 and 1994–95.
- field
- Association football
- nationality
- Italian
- known_for
- Reaching Serie B in the 1990s
- founded
- 11 June 1946
- league
- Serie D
Lore & Background
The club's roots trace back to a previous club in the city that played between 1928 and 1935. The current incarnation was founded on 11 June 1946 as A.C. Acireale, debuting in Serie C with a squad coached by former Juventus player Luigi Bertolini. The early lineup included Core, Maccarrone, Cantarella, Dereani, Barattucci, Conti, Signorelli, Raciti, Grasso, Creziato, and Cusumano. The granata earned promotion in the 1957–58 campaign and later achieved promotion to Serie C in the 1968–69 season. Between the latter half of the 1960s and 1972, the club competed under the name 'Acquapozzillo.' Less than a decade after their ascent, the team dropped back to Serie D in the 1975–76 season and participated in several editions of the Interregional Championship.
Reader's Guide
Acireale's significance lies in its rise from lower divisions to Serie B in the early 1990s, a period considered its golden era. Under coach Giuseppe Papadopulo, the team gained its first promotion to Serie B in the 1992–93 season. In its first Serie B season (1993–94), Acireale avoided relegation by winning a play-off against Pisa on penalties. However, the following season (1994–95) ended in relegation to Serie C1. The club then played four consecutive seasons in Serie C2, ending in 2003 after promotion via playoffs. Financial troubles led to a drop after a disappointing 2005–06 season. The club was refounded as Acireale Calcio in the Promozione regional league, winning promotion to Eccellenza in its first season. Renamed to the current denomination in August 2007, it earned promotion to Serie D in the 2009–10 season. Notable former managers include Walter Mazzarri, Giuseppe Papadopulo, and Francesco Scoglio.
Did You Know?
- The club was founded on 11 June 1946 as A.C. Acireale.
- Its first coach was former Juventus player Luigi Bertolini.
- Acireale reached Serie B for the first time in the 1992–93 season.
- The club competed under the name 'Acquapozzillo' between the latter half of the 1960s and 1972.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SSD Città di Acireale 1946?
It is an Italian association football club rooted in the Sicilian town of Acireale. The team currently competes in Serie D, the fourth rung of Italy's national league pyramid.
How did the phoenix rebirth of Acireale happen?
The original Società Sportiva Acireale ceased to exist in 1993, and a new legal entity was registered to carry on the club's identity while retaining the 11 June 1946 founding date. This structural reset allowed the town's football tradition to survive under a fresh corporate shell.
What is SSD Città di Acireale 1946's competitive role in Italian football?
The club functions as a fourth-division outfit in the national system, playing its matches in Serie D. Its historical ceiling was reached in the mid-1990s, when it broke into Serie B and contested the second tier for two consecutive campaigns (1993–94 and 1994–95).
Why is SSD Città di Acireale 1946 important to Sicilian football?
The club's back-to-back Serie B seasons in the 1990s remain the highest level of competition the town has ever reached. That brief golden era still defines the identity and ambitions of local supporters today.
When was SSD Città di Acireale 1946 founded?
The club's official founding date is 11 June 1946, a date preserved even after the 1993 dissolution and subsequent re-registration. The current S.r.l. structure simply inherits that original anniversary as its founding milestone.
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