A Pulse-Check On The Serie A Top Teams Before Restart

In less than a month, the Serie A is set to welcome it's doors open for action once again. There might have been no action on the pitch for the last two months but a lot has gone down regardless. So let's take a look at the top Serie A sides and their major activities while football was forced to stop, with a special focus on the rumored transfer market deals.

It’s Official: Serie A Will Restart In June, Minister Spadafora Says

It’s official: The Serie A will restart on June 20. The first calcio games to be played, however, will be the remaining Coppa Italia rounds – the second leg of the Semi-Finals (Napoli-Inter on June 13 and Juventus-Milan on June 14) and then the Final in Rome on the 17th. The Italian Minister for Sport Vincenzo Spadafora confirmed that.
A stadium is most often a synonym for “home advantage.” That was not the case of the late Stadio Delle Alpi in Turin, however

Temples of The Cult: The Late Stadio Delle Alpi In Turin

A football stadium is most often a synonym for “home advantage.” That was not the case of the late Stadio Delle Alpi in Turin, however, which both Juventus and Torino reluctantly called their home for 18 years before managing to move away from it. A symbol of waste, poor organization, and underutilization common to many Italian playing grounds.

Gigi Simoni, The Gentleman Coach Who Mentored Ronaldo at Inter

For all football fans, he will always remain Ronaldo’s first manager in the Serie A. Luigi “Gigi” Simoni, a football coach and a gentleman, passed away on Friday at 81. His name is mostly linked to the 1997-98 season when he led Inter to win the UEFA Cup but lost his Scudetto chances in a controversial game against Juventus.

On Her Majesty’s Service: The Rise and Fall of Massimo Maccarone

A name that rings true with Middlesbrough fans, Massimo Maccarone was an eccentric addition to the long list of fine Boro strikers. From Fabrizio Ravanelli to Mark Viduka, to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Yakubu, and Maccarone - the Riverside has long been the home of some great forwards, but the latter proved many wrong with his performances.

Serie A To Restart In June, Playoffs In Case of New Suspension

The Serie A will restart in June, and so will the lower divisions Serie B and Serie C. The Federal Council of the Italian Football Federation approved to resume all the major football competitions in Italy. In case of another stop to the games, the Federation will consider resorting to a playoff round to determine the Serie A winner.

Temples of The Cult: The Artemio Franchi Stadium In Florence

The Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence is more than a playing ground. Fiorentina's home turf is considered an architectural masterpiece of the ‘30s, a clear example of Italian Rationalism, a combination of aesthetic refinement and structural rigor. A stadium that lives up to the beauty of the city it belongs, despite not being the most suitable to watch a football game.

On Her Majesty’s Service: Carlo Cudicini Could Have Been a Star

Carlo Cudicini lasted 22 years as a professional goalkeeper, with 13 of those being spent in England between Chelsea and Tottenham, making him one of the Premier League’s longest-serving Italian stars. But for all his talent, it seems he was always with the wrong club at the wrong time and somehow forged a reputation as a "back-up" player.

The All-Time Top 11 Argentinian Players In Serie A

Players from Argentina have been a long-standing presence in Serie A since the league opened its frontiers to foreign players. With so many names to choose from and a couple of spots filled with no explanation needed (did anybody say Maradona?), we are sure our all-time Albiceleste selection in Italian sauce will spark some healthy debate.

On Her Majesty’s Service: Attilio Lombardo’s Stint at Crystal Palace

Attilio Lombardo was one of the most robust right-wingers of the '90s. He spent a year-and-a-half in England, playing for the newly-promoted Crystal Palace in 1997. His move shocked many, as Lombardo had only just reached the heights of Italian football with Juventus and he swapped that all to become Palace's star player of an otherwise forgetful season.