The Sad Story of Chievo Verona
By: Daniel Duque
Chievo Verona was an Italian soccer team that dissolved in Aug. of this year after struggling economically for years and failed to find a buyer to keep the team in the Italian league competitions. The disappearance of Chievo left the city of Verona without one of its two traditional teams and Serie A club Hellas Verona without a direct rival to share Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium. In which both teams contested the "Derby della Scala".
After spending two seasons in Italy's Serie B and getting relegated in 2019, Chievo was dissolved as they were not able to pay the debts the team had. After its disappearance, the team was refounded under the name of FC Clivense and was sent to Terza Categoria, Italy's ninth division league.
Sergio Pellissier, one of Chievo Verona's figures.
Photo courtesy of Football Italia
Chievo Verona was founded in the small neighborhood of Chievo in Verona, Italy in 1929. The team was not associated with the Italian Football Federation but played multiple amateur tournaments. It was in 1989 that Chievo was promoted to professional soccer and got a place in Italy's Serie C. In 1992, the team was promoted to Serie B and nine years later they made it to Italy's top tier, Serie A
Chievo Verona's squad during the 2001/2002 season.
Photo courtesy of Gentleman Ultra
During the 2001/2002 Serie A season, Italian Media expected Chievo to return to Serie B after the end of the season. They displayed a good performance being able to lead the league for six weeks in a row and finishing fifth at the end of the season under top teams Juventus, AC Milan and Inter. Due to their good performance, Chievo was awarded a spot on UEFA's Cup which was a big achievement for a team that had just played their first season in first division.
After their outstanding first season in Serie A, the team was nicknamed "The Flying Donkeys". During the 2002/2003 season, the team finished seventh and got eliminated from the UEFA Cup in the first round. However, they were able to keep their place in Serie A. During that season, Chievo was the only team representing the city of Verona, as neighbor team Hellas Verona was relegated the previous season.
For the 2006/2007 season, Chievo would be relegated to Serie B after spending six seasons in Italy's top tier. They got promoted to Serie A after finishing first during the 2007/2008 Serie B season and consolidated as a first division team that was gaining popularity and attracting supporters in Italy.
Following the 2008/2009 Serie A season, Chievo Verona underperformed repeatedly in every season they played, facing the risk for relegation constantly and finishing in the lower positions of the table. During the 2018/19 season, 11 years after they were last promoted to Serie A, Chievo was relegated to Serie B after finishing last.
Chievo players mourning their relegation.
Photo courtesy of Forza Italian Football
After spending two seasons in Serie B. Chievo Verona was considered to not be financially stable to keep competing following the economic problems and debts they had accumulated in the past. The team was not able to find a buyer to at least get a place on Italy's fourth division league and was forced to dissolve from Italian Professional Soccer.
Despite Chievo Verona disappearing from professional soccer, a new team founded by former Chievo player Sergio Pellissier called Clivense FC will keep carrying Chievo Verona's legacy. Time will tell if they deserve a spot in Italy's Serie A, which Chievo Verona occupied for 16 years.