History of Serie A in Timeline
Serie A is the top-tier professional football league in Italy, established in 1929-30, restructuring the previous Italian Football Championship. It operates on a promotion and relegation system with Serie B. Officially known as Serie A Enilive in Italy and Serie A Made in Italy abroad for sponsorship reasons, it represents the highest level of Italian football.
6 hours ago : Juventus faces crisis after Como's lesson at Stadium; Roma may extend lead.
Juventus is in crisis after drawing with Como at home, facing criticism. Roma has the chance to move four points ahead, increasing pressure on Juventus. The game occurred on February 21, 2026.
1904: Tournament Renamed Prima Categoria
From 1904, the tournament was named Prima Categoria and was structured into regional groups, with the winners participating in a playoff to declare the champions.
1909: FIF Renamed FIGC and Joined FIFA
In 1909, the Federazione Italiana del Football (FIF) joined FIFA and was renamed to Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC).
1913: FIGC Usurped FGNI
By 1913, the FIGC usurped the rival Federazione Ginnastica Nazionale Italiana (FGNI) as a football administration, after the FGNI organized football tournaments in Italy between 1895 and 1913.
1921: Start of Prima Divisione Era
In 1921, Prima Divisione began, divided into Lega Nord and Lega Sud, using a regional format.
1921: Split Forming Confederazione Calcistica Italiana (CCI)
In 1921, arguments on the number of teams to be allowed led to a split, forming the Confederazione Calcistica Italiana (CCI).
1922: Start of League Format Serie A
Before 1929, many clubs competed in the top level of Italian football as the earlier rounds were competed up to 1922 on a regional basis then interregional up to 1929.
1922: CCI Conducts Rival Tournament
In 1922, the CCI conducted a rival tournament named Prima Divisione with Northern Italy's wealthiest clubs, in opposition to the competition organised separately by the FIGC.
1923: Introduction of the Scudetto
From the 1923 to 1924 season, the winner of the Italian football league set up adorned a small coat of arms with the Italian tricolour (scudetto) on their strip in the following season.
1923: FIGC Accepts Prima Divisione Format
In 1923, the FIGC accepted the Prima Divisione as the new format with its reduced number of teams.
1924: Introduction of the Scudetto
From the 1923 to 1924 season, the winner of the Italian football league set up adorned a small coat of arms with the Italian tricolour (scudetto) on their strip in the following season.
1926: Fascist Regime Controls FIGC
In 1926, the Fascist regime placed the FIGC under the control of politician Leandro Arpinati, replacing Prima Divisione with Divisione Nazionale.
1926: No national title awarded
In 1926, the national title was not awarded and was revoked from Torino due to their involvement in football-related scandals.
1927: Formation of AS Roma
In 1927, two of the three Roman teams merged to form AS Roma, joining the Divisione Nazionale.
1929: Start of League Format Serie A
Before 1929, many clubs competed in the top level of Italian football as the earlier rounds were competed up to 1922 on a regional basis then interregional up to 1929.
1929: Re-organisation to Form Serie A and Serie B
In 1929, Italian football was re-organised to form a national two-division hierarchic meritocracy, with promotion and relegation between Serie A and Serie B, and Internazionale won the inaugural Serie A.
1929: Establishment of Serie A
In 1929, Serie A was established, restructuring the Italian Football Championship into a national round-robin format alongside Serie B.
1929: Reorganisation of top division into Serie A
In 1929, the top division was reorganized into Serie A, with the FIGC recognizing 29 Italian Football Championships held prior to this reorganisation.
1929: Start of Single Round Serie A Championships
There are 68 teams that have taken part in 94 Serie A championships in a single round that was played from the 1929–30 season until the 2025–26 season.
1943: League Organized by Direttorio Divisioni Superiori
Until 1943, the Serie A league was organized by the Direttorio Divisioni Superiori.
1945: Recognition of 1945-46 season
In 1945, the 1945–46 season, played under a temporary format due to World War II, was recognized as an official championship.
1945: Restoration of North-South Divisions
In 1945, the North-South divisions of Divisione Nazionale were restored for the single 1945–46 season after World War II.
1946: Serie A Restored
In 1946, Serie A was re-stored and has continued until today.
1946: League Organized by Lega Calcio
In 1946, the Lega Calcio took over the organization of Serie A.
1947: One Season with 21 Teams
The 1947–48 season was played with 21 teams due to political reasons following post-war tensions with Yugoslavia.
1960: Introduction of the Coppa Campioni d'Italia Trophy
Since the 1960–61 season, an actual trophy is awarded to the winning club and is called the Coppa Campioni d'Italia.
1961: Introduction of Coppa Campioni d'Italia Trophy
Since 1961, the Coppa Campioni d'Italia trophy has been awarded to the Serie A champion.
1963: Bologna Wins Scudetto After Playoff
In the 1963–64 season, Bologna won the scudetto after defeating Inter in a playoff game by 2–0 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
1990: Serie A shown on The Sports Channel
In 1990, Serie A appeared on The Sports Channel, marking its initial broadcast in the UK.
1991: Serie A shown on Sky Sports
In 1991, Serie A appeared on Sky Sports in the UK.
1992: Serie A shown on Channel 4
In 1992, Serie A appeared on Channel 4 in the UK.
1994: Teams Awarded Three Points for a Win
Since the 1994–95 season, Serie A teams are awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss.
1995: Reference to players born in 1995
In the 2016-17 season, it was referenced that players born in 1995 or after were eligible under the under-21 rule.
1998: Collective Television Rights Abandoned
Serie A abandoned collective negotiation of television rights at the end of the 1998–99 season before reinstating it in 2010.
1999: Playoff Used to Decide European Competition Qualifications
Playoff games have been used on multiple occasions to decide European competition qualifications (most recently in 1999–2000).
2000: Abolishment of quota system
In the middle of the 2000–01 season, the old quota system, which limited each team to having no more than five non-EU players and using no more than three in each match, was abolished.
2000: Playoff Used to Decide European Competition Qualifications
Playoff games have been used on multiple occasions to decide European competition qualifications (most recently in 1999–2000).
July 2001: Bans for footballers using fake passports
In July 2001, the FIGC investigated footballers that used fake passports, and many players from various teams were banned for lengths ranging from six months to one year.
2002: Serie A shown on Eurosport
In 2002, Serie A appeared on Eurosport in the UK.
2002: Provisional measures introduced for signing non-EU players
In the 2002–03 season, provisional measures were introduced, allowing Serie A and B clubs to sign only one non-EU player in the 2002 summer transfer window.
2002: Number of non-EU players in Serie A
In the 2002–03 season, there were 265 non-EU players in Serie A.
2003: Quota imposed on clubs limiting non-EU player signings
At the start of the 2003–04 season, a quota was imposed on each of the clubs limiting the number of non-EU, non-EFTA and non-Swiss players who may be signed from abroad each season.
August 2004: Minor changes to non-EU player rule
In August 2004, the rule regarding non-EU players underwent minor changes.
2004: Serie A shown on Setanta Sports and Bravo
In 2004, Serie A appeared on Setanta Sports and Bravo in the UK.
2004: EU enlargement
In 2004, some players received EU status after their respective countries joined the EU.
2004: No national title awarded
In 2004, the national title was not awarded and was revoked from Juventus due to their involvement in football-related scandals.
2004: Increase to 20 Clubs in Serie A
Since the 2004–05 season, there have been 20 clubs competing in Serie A.
2004: Presentation of Trophy On-Pitch
Until 2004, the Coppa Campioni d'Italia trophy was presented to the winning club at the head office of the Lega Nazionale Professionisti; since then, it has been presented on-pitch at the end of the last round of games.
June 2005: Minor changes to non-EU player rule
In June 2005, the rule regarding non-EU players underwent minor changes.
2005: Playoff Used To Decide The Winner
Before 2005–06, a play-off would immediately be used if teams were tied for first place, a European qualification spot, or a relegation spot.
2005: Adrian Mutu joined Juventus
In 2005, Adrian Mutu joined Juventus via Livorno, as Romania was not a member of the EU at the time.
June 2006: Minor changes to non-EU player rule
In June 2006, the rule regarding non-EU players underwent minor changes.
2006: Tiebreakers Used To Decide Scudetto Winner
Between 2006–07 and 2021–22, the tiebreakers currently used for all places to decide the scudetto winner if necessary, though this was never needed.
2006: Number of non-EU players in Serie A
In the 2006–07 season, the number of non-EU players was reduced to 166.
June 2007: Minor changes to non-EU player rule
In June 2007, the rule regarding non-EU players underwent minor changes.
2007: Serie A shown on Channel 5
In 2007, Serie A appeared on Channel 5 in the UK.
2007: EU enlargement
In 2007, some players received EU status after their respective countries joined the EU.
2008: Quota system changes
At the beginning of the 2008–09 season, the quota system changed, awarding three quotas to clubs that did not have non-EU players.
2008: Serie A shown on Channel 5
In 2008, Serie A appeared on Channel 5 in the UK.
April 2009: Serie A Announced Split From Serie B
In April 2009, Serie A announced a split from Serie B due to disputes over television rights, and Maurizio Beretta became president of the new league.
2009: Inter Milan Achieves Continental Treble
In 2009, Inter Milan achieved a continental treble.
July 2010: Reduction of conditional quota
On 2 July 2010, the conditional quota was reduced back to one, but teams without non-EU players could sign up to three non-EU players.
2010: League Organized by Lega Serie A
In 2010, Lega Serie A began organizing the league.
2010: Introduction of Serie A Logo Featuring TIM
In 2010, Serie A introduced a logo that featured its sponsor Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM).
2010: Collective Television Rights Negotiation
Since the 2010–11 season, Serie A clubs have negotiated television rights collectively rather than individually.
2011: Signing quota reverts to two
In 2011, the signing quota reverted to two.
2013: Serie A shown on ESPN and BT Sport
In 2013, Serie A appeared on ESPN and BT Sport in the UK.
2015: Introduction of squad cap
In the 2015–16 season, a cap of 25 players (excluding under-21 players) was introduced.
2015: Announcement of quota
In the 2015–16 season, the following quota was announced.
April 2016: Serie A Selected to Test Video Replays
In April 2016, Serie A was selected by the International Football Association Board to test video replays.
2016: Minor Change in Logo Due to TIM's Logo Change
In 2016, the Serie A logo had a minor change due to the change of the logo of TIM itself.
2016: Sassuolo sanctioned for fielding ineligible player
In the 2016–17 season, the FIGC sanctioned Sassuolo for fielding ineligible player, Antonino Ragusa.
2017: Private Video Replays for Serie A
In 2017, Serie A had private video replays for the season.
August 2018: Announcement of New Serie A Logo
In August 2018, a new Serie A logo was announced.
2018: Serie A shown on Eleven Sports Network and BT Sport
In 2018, Serie A appeared on Eleven Sports Network and BT Sport in the UK.
August 2019: Announcement of Another New Serie A Logo
In August 2019, another new Serie A logo was announced.
2019: Serie A shown on Premier and FreeSports
In 2019, Serie A appeared on Premier and FreeSports in the UK.
2021: Tiebreakers Used To Decide Scudetto Winner
Between 2006–07 and 2021–22, the tiebreakers currently used for all places to decide the scudetto winner if necessary, though this was never needed.
2021: Serie A shown on BT Sport
In 2021, Serie A appeared on BT Sport in the UK.
2021: Serie A shown on CBS Sports and Paramount+
In 2021, Serie A began to be shown on CBS Sports and its streaming network Paramount+ in the United States.
2021: Asymmetrical Calendar Introduced
In the 2021–22 season, Serie A introduced an asymmetrical calendar, following the format of the English, Spanish and French leagues.
2021: Television Rights in Italy
Since 2021, Sky Italia and DAZN are the two broadcasters in Italy that has the television rights.
2022: Playoff Used to Decide Relegation
Playoff games have been used on multiple occasions to decide relegation (most recently in 2022–23).
2023: Serie A Ranked as Best League by UEFA Coefficient
In 2023, Serie A was ranked as the best league by UEFA coefficient due to strong performances in European competitions.
February 2024: Serie A to Continue with 20 Club Format
In February 2024, Serie A decided to continue with the 20 club format after sixteen clubs voted against reducing the division to 18 teams.
February 2024: Serie A Signs Sponsor Deal with Enilive
On 5 February 2024, Serie A signed a new sponsor deal with Eni, known as Enilive, to take on the main sponsor role of the Serie A.
2024: Top 5 Serie A Clubs Qualify for Champions League
As a result of its UEFA coefficient ranking, in 2024, the top 5 clubs in Serie A qualify for the Champions League.
2024: Serie A Ranks Second in UEFA Coefficient Rankings
As of 2024, Serie A ranks second in the UEFA coefficient rankings, based on performances in European competitions over the past five seasons.
2024: Serie A sells international rights to Infront agency
In 2024, Serie A sold its international rights to the Infront agency for the 2024–29 cycle, excluding the United States and MENA regions.
2025: Teams Competing in 2025-26 Season
The 20 clubs for the Serie A competing in the 2025–26 season have been determined.
2025: Serie A Championships
There are 68 teams that have taken part in 94 Serie A championships in a single round that was played from the 1929–30 season until the 2025–26 season.
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