Situated within the province of Modena, the name of Carpi FC wouldn’t even register with the most obsessive of football anoraks. The Biancorossi were a side barely known in Serie B, yet this season they will be rubbing shoulders with the likes of AC Milan, Inter, Juventus and Roma as part of a fairytale journey over 100 years in the making.
Indeed it was only six years ago that it would have been tempting to hire a private detective to find Carpi in among the list of football tables. Nestled deep down in the fifth tier of Italian football their rise ever since has been nothing short of meteoric.
Spending much of their history trying to gain a foothold in the higher echelons of the Italian game, it was only in 1997, two years before their financial collapse, that they narrowly missed out on reaching Serie B after falling 3-2 in a play-off match against Monza when one Marco Materazzi donned the Biancorossi shirt whilst on loan from Perugia.
Arguably the turning point in Carpi’s recent history, and their big breakthrough, came when they earned their third promotion in four seasons in 2013 by defeating Lecce 2-1 on aggregate to gain promotion to Serie B.
Despite the previous season representing only their second ever season in Serie B, Carpi took everyone by surprise to become the division’s runaway leaders amassing 80 points and earning an historic promotion to the Italian top-flight with four games of the season still left to play by clinching a point against Bari at the end of April.
Much of the media have relentlessly harped on about the sheer size of the club, the town’s entire population can fit comfortably into the Stadio Olimpico, but it is clear that Carpi’s promotion was neither a fluke nor the result of concerted financial spending in relentless pursuit of a shot at the big-time.
Under the wise stewardship of coach Fabrizio Castori, this young and enthralling side swept much before them in Serie B, but could also adapt their game to grind out results: Carpi conceded 21 goals fewer than their nearest challengers Frosinone.
A series of astute signings such as that of goalkeeper Gabriel on loan from AC Milan, or Kevin Lasagna from Este, or the shrewd acquisition of Nigerian forward Jerry Mbakogu who averaged a goal every two games gave Carpi an unpredictability in Serie B that will stand them in good stead for their maiden season among Italy’s elite.
Transfers
With a budget rumoured to be just €3 million, Carpi have no other option but to scour the globe in pursuit of the best free agents and loan deals the market can offer.
Such was the masterstroke of signing Gabriel last season, the Biancorossi have arguably become a victim of their own success as the Brazilians stunning performances caught the eye of Napoli who were quick to recruit the 22-year-old on loan themselves.
Castori has opted to add some much needed experience between the sticks by recruiting 29-year-old Zeljko Brkic from Udinese on-loan, whilst Verona goalkeeper Francesco Benussi also arrives at the Serie A newcomers on a free transfer.
Despite one of their strengths last season being a miserly defence, Carpi have also decided to reinforce their backline with notable additions including loan deals for the Brazilian full-back Wallace from Premier League champions Chelsea and Udinese duo Igor Bubnjic and Gabriel Silva.
In midfield, the highlight of the Biancorossi’s acquisitions includes Juventus prodigy Luca Marrone, also a loan-deal and the signing of Fiorentina midfielder Andrea Lazzari on a free transfer.
Going forward, Castori has gambled on two Brazilian wingers with Ryder Matos joining on loan from Fiorentina and Raphael Martinho making the switch from Catania on a free transfer. A lot of responsibility for getting the goals to preserve Carpi’s Serie A status will fall on the shoulders of Polish forward Kamil Wilczek who notched 20 goals last season with Piast Gliwice in Poland’s top-flight.
The Coach
In a coaching career spanning 34 seasons and 21 clubs, Carpi coach Fabrizio Castori has certainly been around the block when it comes to Italian football.
Yet even for him, Carpi’s upcoming season will form an altogether new experience given it will be his first in Serie A.
Castori’s most notable appointment was with Cesena when he led them to the Serie C1 promotion Play-Offs as well as the Coppa Italia Serie C in 2004, before being banned from coaching for two years after being the protagonist in a riot during the Play-Offs.
Subsequently Castori has coached a series of clubs in the Italian second tier, but since his dismissal at Cesena he has failed to hold down a job at any club for more than a year.
Castori has instilled discipline and belief among his Carpi side and brings vast football experience, however whether he can cut it at the highest level is yet to be seen.
Season Expectations
Carpi approach their maiden season in the Italian top-flight as runaway winners of Serie B and will take confidence from the fact that they were largely mooted as underdogs at the beginning of last season before going onto confound the critics.
However, the Biancorossi will be under no illusions as to the scale of the task facing them if they are to make their stay in the Italian top-flight anything other than a temporary visit.
Prediction
Last season, despite an average age of 24, Carpi breezed Serie B and sealed promotion with four games to spare. However, despite adding some much needed experience, the Biancorossi will be very much against it to defeat the drop. Pre-season defeats against Inter, Fiorentina and Perugia do not bode well and a nightmare opening set of six fixtures which include entertaining Inter, Fiorentina and Napoli as well as away games against Sampdoria, Palermo and Roma may mean that this fairytale could be about to come to an unhappy ending.
Expected finish: 18th. (NB: this is not necessarily Brian McLaughlin’s opinion but the average of our editors’ predictions.)
