On May 7 1978, Juve pipped the most unlikely of challengers to the Scudetto, and one who could make their return to Serie A soon enough.
1977-78 Juventus side against Napoli (1-0)
In 2015 Juventus have gone on to win their fourth successive Scudetto; but the team they beat in 1978 to the Serie A title is going through a crucial period of their own.
That side is Vicenza, one of Italy’s great provincial sides and they could possibly be on their way back to Serie A after a decade-long absence.
Vicenza have been one of the surprise packages in this season’s Serie B following an unexpected and fortunate promotion from Lega Pro. They lie third in the table and although an away defeat at Brescia and a home draw with Virtus Entella mean that they are no longer favourites for automatic promotion, they will almost certainly have a chance at the playoffs.
A return to Serie A would be fitting given Vicenza’s distinguished history. Between 1955 and 1975 the Biancorossi enjoyed a 20-year spell in Serie A.
The team’s greatest days took place when they were still known as Lanerossi Vicenza, due to a sponsorship agreement with a local wool firm, and they finished five points behind Juventus as runners-up in the 1977-78 season. In those days, Serie A had just 16 teams yet Lane had in their ranks that season’s Capocanniere (Serie A top-scorer).
While they were in Serie B they had signed a young forward from Juventus, who had reputation for being injury-prone after a goal-less spell on loan at Como. His name was Paolo Rossi and the young striker scored an incredible 24 goals at a time when catenaccio was still prevalent around the peninsula.
Paolo Rossi for Vicenza
He was the jewel in the crown of a team that were awarded the nickname ‘Real Vicenza’ because of their attractive style of play. The club launched the glittering career of the 1982 World Cup and Golden Boot winner.
Rossi is perhaps the only name from that great side familiar to most calico fans, but the forward acknowledged that it was coach Giovan Battista Fabbri who made him and the side great. Fabbri set the team up around Rossi and played him through the middle rather than on the wing, which was a remarkable show of faith.
Unfortunately for Lane, their glory days were short-lived.
Vicenza had splashed the cash to sign Rossi outright from co-owners for the scandalously large fee of 2.612 million lire to make him the world’s most expensive player. Rossi was not however able to push Vicenza further on and his and Vicenza’s European adventure was brief.
One season after their second-place finish, the Biancorossi were relegated.
Sadly, Vicenza’s ambition came back to bite them. The outlay on Rossi’s transfer was a folly that crippled the club and a few seasons later a side that had dared to dream of a Scudetto was languishing in Serie C1.
Yet a new hero emerged in the 1984-85 season in the shape of a young Roberto Baggio.
Roberto Baggio for Vicenza
Il Divino Codino (‘The Divine Ponytail’) scored 12 goals that seemed enough to send Vicenza back to Serie B. However, the Biancorossi’s achievements on the pitch counted for nothing after the club were sent back down, after being implicated in the Totonero betting scandal.
In 1990 Vicenza dropped the Lanerossi from the club’s name and new owners took over. In 1993 coach Renzo Ulivieri got them back into Serie B. Later in 1995, Francesco Guidolin guided the Biancorossi back to Serie A.
A new dawn seemed on the horizon. In 1997, the current Tottenham Hotspur owners ENIC bought the club. It seemed a wise investment after Lane beat Napoli to win the 1997 Coppa Italia and qualified for the following season’s European Cup Winner’s Cup.
They performed admirably, knocking out Legia Warsaw and Shakhtar Donetsk on the way to the semi final. They beat Chelsea 1-0 at home and even went ahead at Stamford Bridge before goals by Gus Poyet, Gianfranco Zola and Mark Hughes dashed their hopes of European glory.
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But yet again, it would turn out to be just another false dawn.
In the 1998-99 season the club was relegated, only to return to Serie A in 2000-01. Yet despite nine goals from a youthful Luca Toni, they headed straight back down and have since yo-yoed up and down the lower divisions.
In 2005 Vicenza earned a reprieve as Genoa were sent down for match-fixing, while at the end of the 2013-14 Lega Pro season Vicenza were the fortunate side to be promoted to Serie B and take the place of bankrupt Siena.
Today however, the class of 2014-15 has a solid enough core with experienced defenders such as Thomas Manfredini, journeyman midfielder Davide Di Gennaro and the lower-league specialist Andrea Cocco. One of the more well known players in Lane’s current line-up is the 19-year-old Andrea Petagna who is on loan from AC Milan.
Andrea Petagna for Vicenza
He has just the one goal from 10 appearances and against Entella many of the home supporters appeared frustrated with what they perceived was a lack of running and strength in the air from such a big man.
Missing out on automatic promotion can have an adverse effect when it comes to the playoffs. But if Vicenza do find their way back into Serie A, they are likely to be welcomed by many neutrals.
Many will appreciate the return of a great provincial side that once boasted of the likes of Rossi, Baggio, Luca Toni, Luis Vinicioa, Benito Carbone and Romeo Menti all wearing the red and white shirt.
But whatever happens, Vicenza are again making a name for themselves in the Italian game.
Vicenza fans
