The fact there would have been a sense of failure had Parma not qualified for Europe speaks volumes for just how far the club has come this season. As it is, the Gialloblu faithful can look forward to European football back at the Stadio Ennio Tardini following a seven year hiatus after they dramatically secured a Europa League place on the last day of the season.
Having suffered seasons of mid-table obscurity in recent years, the summer brought promise of new beginnings with the arrival of hallmark signing Antonio Cassano. The enigmatic Italian was added to a squad that had unquestionable talent but also an air of unpredictability. The question was could Coach Roberto Donadoni galvanise his players.
It took the Italian tactician a little time and his side got off to an uninspiring start. An opening day 0-0 draw at home to Chievo was followed by two back to back defeats. Parma had to wait until week five for their first Serie A victory, edging out Atalanta in a 4-3 thriller. The Gialloblu went unbeaten in their next five, largely inspired by midfield anchor, Marco Parolo, who netted five goals in the space of six games.
This mini revival was stopped in its tracks by Juventus but this proved to be a watershed moment in Parma’s season. Following their loss the Bianconeri they went an incredible 17 games unbeaten, propelling them into the running for a European qualification spot.
The reverence for Donadoni’s team was such that they drew parallels to the legendary Parma side who won the Coppa Italia three times, the UEFA Cup twice and the Cup Winners Cup once between 1992 and 1999. Central to this incredible run of form was a concrete spine.
While Donadoni had predominantly exercised a 3-5-2 formation for the first-half of the season, his switch to playing a back four allowed the partnership between Gabriel Paletta and Alessandro Lucarelli to blossom. The two centre-backs were complimented by goalkeeper Antonio Mirante in what developed into a formidable defensive triumvirate.
In central midfield the likes of Parolo, Marco Marchionni and Afriyie Acquah brought dynamism, while in forward positions, Cassano was showing the kind brilliance that saw him tipped as Italy’s golden boy when he burst onto the scene with Bari at the tender age of 19.
Jonathan Biabiany and Amauri also chipped in with valuable contributions but most importantly Donadoni moulded a side who believed they could compete with the best Serie A had to offer.
The Ducali’s astonishing run came to an end in March, once again succumbing to Juventus. Although their form dipped towards the end of the season – predominately due to a tricky run of fixtures – they secured qualification for the Europa League on the last day of the season in dramatic fashion.
A 2-0 win against Livorno saw Parma leapfrog Torino into the sixth and final European place after the Granata missed a last minute penalty and were held 2-2 at Fiorentina. It was stirring till the bitter end and reflective of Parma’s incredible season as a whole. The question is can the Parma fairy-tale be continued in Europe next year?
Player of the season
Parma have had a number of outstanding performers and honourable mentions must go to Mirante, Paletta, Parolo and Cassano for their consistency throughout. But, in truth, this accolade can only go to one man, the Gialloblu’s captain Alessandro Lucarelli.
The 36-year-old central defender has been a magisterial figure at the heart of the back four and his partnership with Paletta has been one of the revelations of the season. His experience and ability to govern the back-line has helped his side keep 13 clean sheets, five more than last year.
The veteran defender has also been Parma’s man of the match on nine occasions. Despite not having age nor pace on his side, Lucarelli’s positioning and aerial prowess helped his side snuff out some of Serie A’s most formidable forwards, including the likes of Gonzalo Higuain and Forza Italian Football’s favoured son, Luca Toni.
The Crociati stalwart also proved a menace to opposition defences, especially from set-pieces and he has chipped in with four goals, including a contender for goal of the season. Parma’s renaissance this campaign has been built on solid foundations and they don’t come much sturdier than Lucarelli.
Goal of the season
It is indicative of Lucarelli’s season that he also scored the standout goal of Parma’s campaign at home to Torino. Not renowned for his finesse or flare, he produced a subtle flick with his heel to guide Nicola Sansone’s corner past Daniele Padelli.
The nonchalance of the finish immediately prompted the commentator (in the video below) to proclaim it was almost identical to Roberto Mancini’s back heel goal for Lazio, ironically against Parma at the same end of the Ennio Tardini.
For the goal to be mentioned in the same breath, let alone be as good as, Mancini’s iconic strike tells you just how impressive this goal was.
Best and Worst Signings
Last summer Parma president, Tommaso Ghirardi, decided he would treat the Parmigiani supporters in honour of the clubs 100th birthday. “We looked to do something special, something extraordinary to make our fans happy.” Ghirardi said. The present was Antonio Cassano.
The 31-year-old joined the Gialloblu as a makeweight in the deal that saw Ishak Belfodil move to Inter and he has been central to Parma’s rejuvenation. Often deployed as a trequartista behind the front two, Cassano has been both creative and prolific, providing five assists and more impressively topping their scoring charts with 12 Serie A goals.
The Bari born forward has been the protagonist in some of Parma’s most impressive performances this campaign, netting in both wins against AC Milan as well as scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory at Napoli. He has also gone some way to shrugging off the ‘bad boy’ tag that has often followed him throughout his career and his sacrifice for the team – including giving up on his beloved focaccia bread to improve his fitness – earned him a place in Italy’s provisional 30-man World Cup Squad.
While Ezequiel Schelotto hasn’t performed badly since joining the club from Sassuolo, some Gialloblu fans may have been left scratching their heads to see Nicola Sansone move the other way. The 22-year-old is now co-owned by the two clubs however he has proved integral to Sassuolo’s remarkable survival, contributing four goals and three assists in 11 matches.
During his spell at the Neroverdi, the Bayern Munich youth product has shown veritable quality and his ingenuity and turn of pace has given them an added dimension. Although Schelotto has provided versatile cover for Biabiany, one can’t help feeling Sansone would still have plenty to offer in a Parma shirt.
Follow Luca Hodges-Ramon on Twitter: @LH_Ramon25
