Extreme Football Tourism: ITALY: AS Cosenza (1964-1982) / Cosenza Calcio 1914 (1982-2003, 2004-2005, 2008-2011) / AS Cosenza FC (2003-2005) / AS Cosenza Calcio (2005-2007) / Fortitudo Cosenza (2007-2008) / Nuova Cosenza Calcio (2011-2014) / Cosenza Calcio (2014-)

Stadio San Vito "Gigi Marulla", Cosenza (Cosenza Calcio, formerly AS Cosenza / Cosenza Calcio 1914 / AS Cosenza FC / AS Cosenza Calcio / Fortitudo Cosenza / Nuova Cosenza Calcio)

Italy, region: Calabria

1 V 2025 / Cosenza Calcio - SSC Bari 1-0 / Serie B (= ITA level 2)

Timeline

1908 / As a schoolboy from Cosenza, Arnaldo De Filippis, is the first to bring a football to his hometown, the enthusiasm for the game itself in the Southern Italian city emerges rapidly, with various neighbourhood teams being formed. Names of such teams which have been preserved for posterity include Virides Sport Club, Speranza, Brutium, Libertà, Savoia, Milan Sport Club, Meridionale, and Fratelli Bandiera – the last-mentioned club named after Attilio and Emilio Bandiera, two brothers and Italian nationalists, who had been condemned to death and executed near Cosenza by state authorities of the then Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in 1844. Given that no proper pitch was available in Cosenza at the time, ‘matches’ between the local teams were played on the old Piazza Prefettura.
1912 / On March 1st, 1912, at the initiative of Amedea De Maria, the patron of the Virides team, various neighbourhood teams in Cosenza conclude a merger to form the first real football club in Cosenza, Società Sportiva (SS) Cosentina. A first match is organised against a team from elsewhere, Juventus Catanzaro, with the encounter finishing in a 1-1 draw. However, later that year, Arnaldo De Filippis as well as Amedeo De Maria withdraw from SS Cosentina following a conflict among the membership, with the club ceasing its activities as a result. Merely a week later, a new club sees the daylight, Società Sportiva (SS) Fortitudo – fortitudo being the Latin word for strength – with Arnaldo De Filippis being elected as its chairman by acclamation. In the following years, SS Fortitudo, like its short-lived predecessor, refrains from joining the Italian Football Association (FIGC), instead preferring to develop local activities only.
1914 / SS Fortitudo plays its first recorded match against a team from elsewhere, Catanzaro-based club Vittorio Emmanuele, with the encounter at Cosenza’s Piazza d’Armi finishing in a 1-1 draw.
1915 / As Italy joins the Allied powers in World War I, declaring war on the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the activities of SS Fortitudo are suspended, as many potential players are called up to join the army.
1918 / Following the end of hostilities on the Isonzo Front, a new club sees the daylight in Cosenza, Sport Club (SC) Italia, although no more activities of this club have been recorded – which may lead to the conclusion that its existence was no more than ephemeral.
1920 / After years of inactivity or seeming inactivity, there is a first sign of life of pre-war SS Fortitudo, as the club organises the first Calabrian Football Championship, with the other two teams taking part in the tournament being Ercole Scalfaro (from Catanzaro) and Audax (from Portapiana). With the home side managing to defeat both their adversaries on the Piazza d’Armi, SS Fortitudo wins first prize. However, the club still does not join the Italian Football Association.
± 1922 / A first real football pitch is laid out for SS Fortitudo by Cosenza’s municipal authorities, the so-called Campo Sportivo Militare, which would remain in use until 1931.
1926 / Foundation of a new football club in Cosenza, which is given the name Cosenza Foot-Ball Club (FBC). This club is founded by Ricardo Maspoli, a disgruntled member of SS Fortitudo, who decided to form a breakaway entity. Maspoli chooses red and blue as the colours of his new club as an homage to Genoa CFC, the single-most successful club in the early days of Italian football, around the turn of the century. Like its mother club SS Fortitudo, Cosenza FBC prefers to develop only local activities. In subsequent years, nothing more is heard of SS Fortitudo, which must have faded out in the face of a new rival club in Cosenza.
1928 / Cosenza FBC is wound up at the behest of municipal authorities, by now firmly in the hands of the fascists, who lay the foundation for a new municipal club, Dopolavoro Sportivo (DS) Cosenza, which, later that same year, takes on the even more politically charged name Associazione Sportiva Fascista (ASF) Cosenza. Unlike all its predecessors, ASF Cosenza joins the Italian Football Association, being placed in the Southern Group of Terza Divisione, the fifth tier of the Italian football pyramid. Undeterred by the circumstances, a group of disconcerted members of the former Cosenza FBC decide to make a countermove by forming a new, privately-run football club, Cosenza Sport Club (SC), which joins the Italian federation as well, being placed in the same division as their city-rivals.
1929 / In the Southern Group of Terza Divisione, ASF Cosenza conquers the title ahead of runners-up Cosenza SC. As such, ASF Cosenza wins promotion to Seconda Divisione, the fourth tier of the Italian football pyramid, but the club is absorbed into the far more popular Cosenza FC that same summer – with Cosenza FC taking the place of ASF Cosenza in Seconda Divisione instead.
1930 / In spite of finishing in an inconspicuous seventh place in Group A South of Seconda Divisione with coach Luigi Cava, Cosenza FC is admitted to Prima Divisione (level 3 of the Italian league pyramid, renamed Serie C in 1935), as the Italian federation wants a team from each provincial capital playing at that level.
1931 / After some ten years of all football activities in Cosenza taking place on the Campo Sportivo Militare, a veritable football stadium is inaugurated, the so-called Campo Sportivo Città di Cosenza – often referred to in subsequent years as Stadio Città di Cosenza. Situated at Via Riccardo Misasi, the ground, which holds about 10,000, is inaugurated with a gala match against a Napoli XI, resulting in a 2-1 win for the home side, on October 28th, 1931. Even though the town’s fascist leadership is proud to present the new stadium, it is not completed yet, with the grandstand lacking a roof and several walls not having been built up yet.
1933 / Shedding its English-language suffix FC at the behest of fascist authorities, Cosenza FC changes its name to become Associazione Sportiva (AS) Cosenza.
1935 / Four years after the inauguration of the Stadio Città di Cosenza, the walls surrounding the ground are finally erected, but, more importantly, a second stand is built opposite the original, uncovered grandstand. This so-called Tribuna B has a roof supported by eight pylons which seriously limit the view of the spectators. When public complaints are made, fascist authorities reply that the design of architect Gualano was followed to the letter.
1943 / With AS Cosenza having enjoyed a relatively quiet spell in Serie C for the past twelve seasons, league football now comes to an end due to the war being brought to Southern Italy with the Allied invasion of Sicily and Calabria.
1945 / Being placed in Serie C for the start of the 1945-46 season, the first since the end of hostilities in Italy, AS Cosenza has to play its home games at the old ground, the Campo Sportivo Militare, due to barracks for evacuees having been built on the turf of the Stadio Città di Cosenza.
1946 / Runners-up in Group F of the Lega Nazionale Centro-Sud Calabria & Sicily, as Serie C is called in the first post-war season, 1 point behind champions US Leoni, but ahead of derby rivals US Catanzaro on goal difference, AS Cosenza wins promotion to Serie B for the first time in history. The successful player-coach is Renato Vignolini. For the start of the new season, the club returns to its Stadio Città di Cosenza, with the barracks having been removed as well as the central part of Tribuna A being equipped with a roof. Two extra sectors had been created at the short ends, the North and South Terraces, separated from the playing field by barbed wire to avoid invasions and violent protests. The changing rooms were rebuilt under the B stand (previously they were on the side of the secondary entrance). In its new shape, the stadium was officially able to host at least 12,000 spectators (in reality over 15,000).
1948 / Despite finishing in a respectable tenth place in Serie B Group C with coach Attilio Demaria, AS Cosenza is retrograded to Serie C due to the three Serie B groups being reduced to just one.
1950 / Finishing in joint first place in Serie C Group D with ACR Messina, AS Cosenza goes on to suffer a clear-cut 7-2 (aggr.) defeat in a tie-breaker against the Sicilian team for the title as well as promotion to Serie B.
1952 / In spite of managing a more than respectable fifth place in Serie C Group D with coach András Kuttik, who replaced Guido Corbelli in the course of the season, AS Cosenza is retrograded to the newly created IV Serie due to four Serie C groups being reduced to just one.
1953 / Finishing in thirteenth place in IV Serie Group H with coach András Kuttik, AS Cosenza suffers its second relegation in a row, descending into the regional leagues along with US Palmese, AS Igea Virtus Barcellona, and bottom club AC Acireale. However, due to an extra open place falling free in IV Serie (renamed Prima Categoria del Campionato Interregionale in 1957), AS Cosenza is ultimately saved from relegation. Also in 1953, the Stadio Città di Cosenza is renamed Stadio Emilio Morrone in honour of a Cosenza goalkeeper who had passed away during a match.
1955 / AS Cosenza finishes as runners-up in IV Serie Group H, 5 points behind champions CRAL Cirio.
1958 / Champions in Prima Categoria del Campionato Interregionale, 2 points ahead of a trio of clubs (AS L’Aquila, Marsala FC, and CRAL Cirio), AS Cosenza manages a return to Serie C after an absence of six years. The successful coach is Enzo Bellini. Also in 1958, at the municipal technical office in Cosenza, a report of a local engineer, Terenzio Tavolaro, sees the daylight about the construction of a new stadium – the future Stadio San Vito.
1959 / AS Cosenza finishes as runners-up in Serie C Group B, 1 point behind derby rivals US Catanzaro.
1961 / Champions in Serie C Group C, 1 point ahead of runners-up AS Trapani, AS Cosenza wins promotion to Serie B after an absence of thirteen years at that level. The successful coach is Gyula Zsengellér. Also in 1961, after three years of preparation, construction of the projected Stadio San Vito – situated in the eponymous neighbourhood on the western outskirts of the town – get underway, with a local construction company, Vincenzo Gallo, carrying out the works.
1962 / Finishing in third-last place in Serie B, AC Cosenza drops back into Serie C after just one season, along with bottom clubs AC Reggiana and AC Prato. However, due to no. 11 in the final table, AC Novara, being retrograded as a punishment for unsportsmanlike behaviour, AC Cosenza is saved from relegation.
1964 / Coached by the duo Gianmarcho Mezzadri and Paolo Todeschini, AS Cosenza finishes bottom of the Serie B table, thus dropping back into Serie C along with AC Prato and AC Udinese. Later that same year, on October 4th, after three years of building works, the new Stadio San Vito is inaugurated with a Cosenza home game against AS Pescara, finishing in a 2-1 home win (Cosenza goals by Giancarlo Ciabattari & Renato Campanini). The event was preceded by a ceremony held at the municipal house, the Palazzo dei Bruzi, attended by mayor Mario Stancati as well as Oreste Granillo, the regional president of the Italian Olympic Committee (as well as the president of AS Reggina). A futuristic design for the early 1960s, the stadium is an horseshoe-shaped all-seater with covered West and East Stands as well as an open terrace on the southern side of the ground, the Curva Sud. An athletics track surrounds the pitch. Total capacity of the new ground is 19,200. The old Stadio Emilio Morrone is abandoned.
1966 / AS Cosenza finishes as runners-up in Serie C Group C, 1 point behind champions US Salernitana.
1970 / Following serious riots at the Stadio San Vito during AS Cosenza’s home game with Internapoli FC, involving the assault of referee Alberto Calì, Italian Football Association officials award a 2-0 victory to Internapoli as well as banning Cosenza from its ground for some time. It is unclear (to me) how long this period lasted and where the club played its home games instead (Any additional information? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me!).
1974 / Finishing in third-last place in Serie C Group C along with Marsala FC, AS Cosenza suffers relegation to Serie D due to a slightly worse goal difference (-16 vs. -13), along with AC Juventus Stabia and bottom club ASK Latina. The coach in charge during this setback was Oscar Montez, who replaced Enzo Benedetti in the course of the season.
1975 / Champions in Serie D Group I, 7 points ahead of closest followers AS Nuova Igea, AS Cosenza manages an immediate return to Serie C. The successful coach is Emilio Zanotti.
1976 / On November 28th, 1976, due to being temporarily evicted from its own Stadio Comunale, US Catanzaro plays its Serie A home match against Bologna FC in Cosenza (1-2). This is the first-ever top flight match to take place at the Stadio San Vito.
1977 / On March 27th, 1977, during the match AS Cosenza-US Paganese at Stadio San Vito, referee Sancini and his linesmen are assaulted by the Cosenza crowd, which had climbed onto the pitch. By way of punishment, the club has to play its home matches away from its own stadium for 1,5 years; it is unclear (to me) where the club played its home matches in this period instead (Any additional information? Please let me know!). Adding insult to injury, AS Cosenza, coached by Franco Pavoni, who replaced Umberto Mannocci in the course of the season, finishes bottom of the table in Serie C Group C, thus descending into Serie D (renamed Serie C2 in 1978) along with AC Alcamo and ACR Messina.
1978 / After an exile of 1,5 years, AS Cosenza returns to playing its home matches at Stadio San Vito, where a moat has been created to separate the stands from the pitch.
1980 / Champions in Serie C2 Group D, AS Cosenza manages a return to Serie C1, i.e. the third level of the Italian football pyramid, after two seasons, along with runners-up US Paganese, which had finished 1 point behind them. The successful Cosenza coach is Nedo Sonetti.
1981 / Finishing in joint twelfth place in Serie C1 Group B with Salernitana Sport, Giulianova Calcio, and US Livorno, AS Cosenza is condemned to relegation to Serie C2 – along with FBC Matera, Siracusa Calcio, and bottom side AC Turris – based on the worst results in head-to-head matches with these clubs. The coach in charge during this less than successful season was Pietro Fontana. Also in 1981, more or less having been left to its own devices for the past seventeen years, Cosenza’s old ground, Stadio Emilio Morrone, is demolished to make way for a public park.
1982 / Runners-up in Serie C2 Group D, 7 points behind champions Barletta Calcio Sport, AS Cosenza manages an immediate return to Serie C1. The successful coach is Renzo Aldi. However, in the summer of 1982, pressed down by debts, AS Cosenza enters into a liquidation process. The club is taken over in a combined efforts of local entrepreneurs and municipal authorities, with Vincenzo Morelli taking over the presidency and the club taking on a new name, Cosenza Calcio 1914.
1983 / Cosenza Calcio 1914 manages to an international cup competition, the so-called Anglo-Italian cup, defeating Wycombe Wanderers FC in the semis (4-0) before having the better of Calcio Padova in Stadio San Vito (2-0, goals by Silvio Longobucco & Vittorio Petrella). Also in 1983, floodlights are added to the set-up of the stadium, which sees its second-ever Serie A match, as US Catanzaro – yet again temporarily driven out of its own Stadio Comunale – takes on Cagliari Calcio (1-2).
1984 / As Calcio Catania has to play one match away from its home ground, the Stadio Cibali, as a punishment, the club plays its home encounter against Genoa 1893 at Cosenza’s Stadio San Vito, suffering a 2-1 defeat.
1987 / Pop star Antonello Venditti comes to Cosenza for an open-air concert at Stadio San Vito. It is the first major music event taking place at the ground – but by no means the last, as further concerts are staged in subsequent years by the likes of Eros Ramazzotti, Sting, Deep Purple, Zucchero, and even Bob Dylan.
1988 / Runners-up in Serie C1 Group B, with an equal number of points as champions Polisportiva Licata, but with a slightly inferior goal difference, Cosenza Calcio 1914 wins promotion to Serie B after an absence of 24 years at that level, along with the aforementioned club as well as play-off winners Reggina Calcio. The decisive point for Cosenza is obtained in a goalless away draw at AC Monopoli, attended by no fewer than 10,000 fans from Cosenza. The successful coach is Lino De Petrillo, who had replaced Lucio Mujesan in the course of the season. In the summer of 1988, a caged away sector is created in the East Stand, a facility badly needed for Cosenza’s derby encounter at Stadio San Vito against US Catanzaro on November 13th, 1988, which sees a valid Cosenza goal being disallowed by referee Pierluigi Pairetto and the heaviest crowd trouble in years.
1989 / Cosenza Calcio 1914 manages a respectable sixth place in Serie B, the best result in club history until that time. That same year, Cosenza’s 27-yaer-old midfielder Donato Bergamini is found dead alongside the SS 106 Jonia road near Roseto Capo Spulico. With authorities initially suspecting suicide, eventually the trail leads to Bergamini’s former fiancée, who is condemned for murder after a lengthy trial concluded in 2024, 35 years after the event. Probably already in 1989, the Curva Sud, home to Cosenza’s most ardent supporters, is renamed in honour of Bergamini.
1991 / Finishing in joint sixteenth place in Serie B with Salernitana Sport, Cosenza Calcio 1914 meets the club from Salerno in a relegation tie-breaker at Pescara’s Stadio Adriatico, going on to win the encounter, attended by some 7,000 fans from Cosenza, 1-0 A.E.T. (goal by Gigi Marulla). As such, the club avoids relegation.
1992 / Cosenza Calcio 1914 has the best season in club history, finishing in fifth place in Serie B, only 2 points behind number 4 Udinese Calcio, which wins promotion to Serie A. Cosenza threw away its promotion chances in a 1-0 away defeat against US Lecce in the last match of the season. On October 1st, 1992, Cosenza’s 23-year-old midfielder Massimiliano Catena passes away in a car accident, four days after scoring his last goal for the club. Also in 1992, the club takes part in the Anglo-Italian Cup for the second time, receiving the likes of Derby County FC and West Ham United FC at Stadio San Vito. However, Cosenza fails to survive the group stage of the tournament.
1993 / For the second year running, Cosenza Calcio 1914 takes part in the Anglo-Italian Cup, receiving the likes of Southend United FC and West Bromwich Albion FC at Stadio San Vito – yet again, however, failing to survive the group stage. Also in 1993, a Curva Nord is constructed, which sees the end of the original horseshoe-design of the stadium without any spectators’ facilities at the northern end of the ground, with the perimeter now being completed. An away sector is created in this new stand, with the new construction being named after Massimiliano Catena, the player who had so tragically died the previous year. Total capacity of the ground is now up from c. 19,000 to c. 24,000.
1994 / The talented midfielder Stefano Fiore, who had broken into Cosenza’s first team from the club’s youth academy two years previously, leaves the club, signing a deal with Serie A side Parma AC.
1995 / Having to start the 1994-95 season in Serie B with a 9 point deduction due to financial misconduct, Cosenza Calcio 1914 eventually manages to avoid the drop by 1 point.
1997 / Coached by Gianni De Biasi, Cosenza Calcio 1914 finishes in seventeenth place in Serie B, thus suffering relegation to Serie C1 along with AC Cesena, USC Palermo, and bottom club US Cremonese. Also in 1997, Cosenza striker and long-time skipper Luigi ‘Gigi’ Marulla hangs up his boots, having collected 329 matches for the club in the course of two different spells (1982-85 & 1989-97), scoring 88 goals. Marulla would go on to work at the club as a coach and youth academy trainer.
1998 / Champions in Serie C1 Group 1, Cosenza Calcio 1914 wins promotion to Serie B along with runners-up Ternana Calcio, which had finished 3 points behind them. The decisive points are obtained in a 2-1 away win at Casarano Calcio, with Domenico Toscano and Massimo Margiotta scoring the goals. Margiotta managed a total of 19 goals that season, crowning himself top scorer of the league. The successful coach is Giuliano Sonzogni.
2001 / Winger Gianluigi Lentini, formerly the most expensive player in the world when he joined AC Milan in 1991 (also collecting thirteen caps for Italy, 1991-93), but whose career was bogged down by a heavy injury, joins Cosenza Calcio 1914 from Torino Calcio.
2003 / Finishing in second-last place in Serie B with coach Antonio Sala, Cosenza Calcio 1914 drops back into Serie C1 along with Calcio Catania, Genoa CFC, and bottom club Salernitana Sport. Even the arrival of former Czech international goalie Pavel Srníček from Brescia Calcio in the course of the season couldn’t save the club – with Srníček leaving for Portsmouth FC in the summer of 2003 after just nine matches played. In the summer of 2003, bogged down by financial problems and expelled from professional league football after failing to submit a surety bond to the Italian Football Association in time, Cosenza Calcio 1914 has to cease its activities. Forthwith, a phoenix club sees the daylight, Associazione Sportiva (AS) Cosenza Football Club (FC), an initiative of Cosenza’s female mayor Eva Catizone who also takes over the presidency of the club. Absorbing Serie D club US Castrovillari, AS Cosenza FC takes that club’s place in Serie D, by now the fifth tier of Italy’s football pyramid, with US Castrovillari waging a restart under its own name in the lower leagues.
2004 / After three years with Cosenza Calcio 1914 and AS Cosenza FC, Gianluigi Lentini leaves the club, withdrawing into non-league at ASDC Canelli. Also in 2004, after one year of inactivity, the ‘old’ Cosenza Calcio 1914 succeeds at reobtaining its Italian FA membership, being placed in Serie D, the same division as AS Cosenza FC, with the two clubs sharing Stadio San Vito. The first derby between the two clubs sees a pitch invasion at the ground taking place, with supporters protesting against the humiliating situation of having to choose between two clubs at the same level.
2005 / Both Cosenza clubs finish in inconspicuous mid-table positions in Serie D Group I. After the 2004-05 season, one year after its unexpected revival, Cosenza Calcio 1914 goes bankrupt once and for all. That same summer, AS Cosenza FC changes its name to become AS Cosenza Calcio.
2006 / Finishing in fourth place in Serie D Group I, AS Cosenza Calcio qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club edges past US Siracusa in the semis (1-1 A.E.T. & penalty shoot-out), only to suffer defeat in the final against US Vibonese Calcio (2-1).
2007 / Finishing in fourth place in Serie D Group I for the second year running, AS Cosenza Calcio qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is knocked out in the semis by US Siracusa (3-1). Following the 2006-07 season, the club goes bankrupt, thus having to refrain from taking part in Serie D in the following season. Following this, local rivals Rende Calcio, which had just suffered relegation from Serie C2 to Serie D, changes its name to become Fortitudo Cosenza, moving its home matches to Stadio San Vito.
2008 / Runaway champions in Serie D Group I, 9 points ahead of runners-up ASD Bacoli Sibilla Flegrea, Fortitudo Cosenza wins promotion to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione, the fourth tier of the Italian football pyramid. The decisive points are clinched in a home match against Flegrea at San Vito, attended by no fewer than 18,000 (!) supporters. The successful coach is Domenico Toscano. In mid-2008, having taken over the brand of the former Cosenza Calcio 1914, Fortitudo Cosenza changes its name to become Cosenza Calcio 1914.
2009 / Champions in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione Group C, 3 points ahead of runners-up Gela Calcio, Cosenza Calcio 1914 manages its second promotion in a row, winning promotion to Lega Pro Prima Divisione, the third level of Italy’s football pyramid. The successful coach still is Domenico Toscano. In the summer of 2009, the club signs Stefano Fiore, former Cosenza youth academy player who had left the club in 1994, going on to have spells at Parma AC, Calcio Padova, AC Chievo Verona, Udinese Calcio, SS Lazio, Valencia CF, AC Fiorentina, Torino Calcio, AS Livorno Calcio, and AC Mantova. Moreover, Fiore also won 38 caps for Italy, representing his country in the 2000 and 2004 European Championships.
2011 / Finishing in third-last place in Lega Pro Prima Divisione Group B with coach Luigi De Rosa, in part due to a six-point deduction due to financial problems, Cosenza Calcio 1914 goes on to suffer a 4-1 (aggr.) defeat in a relegation play-off against FC Esperia Viareggio. As such, the club drops back into Lega Pro Seconda Divisione along with Ternana Calcio and bottom club SS Cavese 1919. Also in 2011, after two more seasons (37 matches) for his childhood club, Stefano Fiore hangs up his boots at the age of 36. Following the 2010-11 season, Cosenza Calcio 1914 is expelled from playing league football due to financial problems. Thereupon, the club ceases all activities, with a new successor club seeing the daylight, Nuova Cosenza Calcio, under the leadership of new chairman Eugenio Guarascio. Given the rich history of football in Cosenza, the new club is placed in Serie D, the fifth level of Italy’s football pyramid, instead of having to start its life at the very bottom of non-league.
2012 / Runners-up in Serie D Group I, 1 point behind champions HinterReggio Calcio, Nuova Cosenza Calcio qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club manages successive wins over ASD Calcio Pomigliano (3-0), US Lavagnese 1919 (1-0), AC Sant’Antonio Abate (4-4 A.E.T. & penalty shoot-out), and SandonàJesolo Calcio (2-3) – thus winning the play-off competition, but due to no extra promotion places turning out to be available, the club has to start the new season in Serie D again.
2013 / Runners-up in Serie D Group I, 3 points behind champions ACR Messina, Nuova Cosenza Calcio qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club survives the first two rounds (wins over US Vibonese Calcio, 1-0 & ASD Gelbison Vallo della Lucania, 3-0), only to be eliminated in R3 by Casertana FC (1-1 A.E.T. & penalty shoot-out). Eventually, though, due to extra promotion places being available, the club is admitted to Serie C2 for the new season. The successful coach is Gianluca Gagliardi. For the new season, the club is joined by Sammarinese international defender Mirko Palazzi of AC Rimini 1912. Also in 2013, after two years of inactivity, Cosenza Calcio 1914 is declared bankrupt and expelled from the Italian Football Association once and for all.
2014 / Finishing in fourth place in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione Group B with coach Roberto Cappellacci, Nuova Cosenza Calcio is admitted to the Lega Pro, the newly created third tier of the Italian football pyramid. Following the 2013-14 season, Mirko Palazzi leaves the club, signing a contract with Sammarinese club SP Tre Penne. For the start of the new season, Nuova Cosenza Calcio simplifies its name to become Cosenza Calcio.
2015 / Cosenza Calcio wins the Coppa Italia Lega Pro – the first club from Calabria to conquer this trophy – ultimately managing a 5-1 (aggr.) defeat over Como Calcio in the final (goals by Marco Criaco, Gianluca De Angelis, Giuseppe Statella, Elio Calderini, and Simone Ciancio). The successful coach is Giorgio Roselli. Also in 2015, Cosenza’s ultimate club icon, former player and coach, Luigi ‘Gigi’ Marulla passes away suddenly at the age of 52. In his honour, the Stadio San Vito is officially renamed Stadio San Vito-Gigi Marulla.
2017 / Finishing in seventh place in Lega Pro Group C, Cosenza Calcio qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club has the better of Paganese Calcio 1926 (2-0) and SS Matera Calcio (3-2 aggr.) in the first two rounds, only to be eliminated in the quarter-finals by Pordenone Calcio (1-0 aggr.). For the new season, Lega Pro takes on the old name Serie C.
2018 / Finishing in fifth place in Serie C Group C, Cosenza Calcio qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club manages successive defeats of Sicula Leonzio (2-1), Casertana FC (1-1 & better league finish), Trapani Calcio (4-1 aggr.), SS Sambenedettese (4-1 aggr.), and FC Südtirol (2-1 aggr.) to qualify for the final against Robur Siena, to be played at Pescara’s Stadio Adriatico. In an encounter attended by no fewer than 11,000 supporters from Calabria, Cosenza Calcio manages a 3-1 win, thus ultimately acceding to Serie B after an absence of fifteen years, along with Serie C Group C champions US Lecce. The successful coach is Piero Braglia, who replaced Gaetano Fontana in the course of the season. Also in 2018, in a renovation of the Stadio San Vito-Gigi Marulla, new seats with backrests are put in place in all sectors of the stadium – which, due to the larger surface of these seats as opposed to their predecessors, brings down total stadium capacity from c. 24,000 to 20,987.
2021 / Finishing in seventeenth place in Serie B, Cosenza Calcio drops back into Serie C along with AC Reggiana 1919, Delfino Pescara 1936, and bottom club Virtus Entella. However, as an another Serie B club, AC Chievo Verona, goes bankrupt at the end of the season, Cosenza Calcio is invited to take that club’s place in Serie B, thus ultimately avoiding the drop. In the summer of 2021, Finnish international defender Sauli Väisänen joins the club from the now defunct AC Chievo Verona.
2022 / Finishing in sixteenth place in Serie B, Cosenza Calcio manages to win a relegation play-off against LR Vicenza (2-1 aggr.), thus staving off the drop narrowly for the second year running.
2023 / Finishing in seventeenth place in Serie B, Cosenza Calcio manages to win a relegation play-off against Brescia Calcio (4-0 aggr., 1-0 home win & 1-1 away draw, commuted to a 0-3 win by the Italian Football Association due to misconduct by Brescia supporters) – thus narrowly avoiding relegation for the third time in a row. In the summer of 2023, Sauli Väisänen leaves the club to sign a deal with Danish side OB.
2025 / Finishing bottom of the table in Serie B with coach Massimiliano Alvini, Cosenza Calcio drops back into Serie C along with Brescia Calcio, AS Cittadella, and play-off loser US Salernitana 1919.