History of Serie A in Timeline

Serie A is the top-tier professional football league in Italy, established in 1929-30. It evolved from the earlier Italian Football Championship (since 1898) and features a national round-robin format alongside Serie B. The league operates on a promotion and relegation system with Serie B, representing the highest level of Italian club football.

1901: AC Milan Wins Italian Football Championship

In 1901, AC Milan won the Italian Football Championship, interrupting Genoa's dominance.

1904: Prima Categoria Tournament Name

From 1904, the tournament was named Prima Categoria, structured into regional groups, with the winners of each group participating in a playoff to declare the champions.

1909: FIF Renamed to FIGC and Joins FIFA

In 1909, the Federazione Italiana del Football (FIF) joined FIFA and was renamed to Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC).

1913: FIGC Usurps FGNI in Football Administration

In 1913, the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC) usurped the rival Federazione Ginnastica Nazionale Italiana (FGNI) as a football administration.

1921: Formation of the Confederazione Calcistica Italiana (CCI)

In 1921, an argument about the number of teams to be allowed led to a split, forming the Confederazione Calcistica Italiana (CCI).

1921: Establishment of Prima Divisione

Prima Divisione was played from 1921 to 1926, divided into Lega Nord and Lega Sud.

1922: CCI Organizes Prima Divisione Tournament

In 1921-22, the CCI conducted a tournament named Prima Divisione with Northern Italy's wealthiest clubs, in opposition to the competition organized separately by the FIGC.

1922: Regional Football Before League System

Prior to 1922, the earlier rounds of Italian football were competed on a regional basis before moving to interregional up to 1929.

1923: Introduction of the Scudetto

From the 1923–24 season, the winner of the Italian football league setup adorned a small coat of arms with the Italian tricolour on their strip in the following season, referred to as the scudetto.

1924: Introduction of the Scudetto Emblem

Since 1924, the winning club of the Italian top division has worn the scudetto emblem on its kit in the following season.

1926: Prima Divisione Replaced with Divisione Nazionale

In 1926, the Fascist regime placed the FIGC under control, and Prima Divisione was replaced with Divisione Nazionale.

1926: No champion awarded

In the 1926-27 season, no champion was awarded in Serie A.

1926: End of Prima Divisione

Prima Divisione, established in 1921, was played until 1926. Prima Divisione was divided into Lega Nord and Lega Sud.

1927: Formation of AS Roma

In 1927, two of the three Roman teams merged to form AS Roma.

1929: Start of League Format

Before 1929, many clubs competed in the top level of Italian football, but after 1929 the league format began.

1929: Re-organization of Italian Football

In 1929, Italian football was re-organized to form a national 2 division hierarchic meritocracy, with Serie A and Serie B established. 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: Re-brand to Serie A

In 1929, the Italian Football Championship was re-branded to Serie A.

1929: Recognition of Previous Championships

In 1929, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) officially recognized the 29 championships played between 1898 and 1929 with equal status to later Serie A titles.

1929: Start of Single Round Serie A Championships

There are 68 teams that have taken part in 93 Serie A championships in a single round that was played from the 1929–30 season until the 2024–25 season.

1943: Lega Calcio takes over Serie A organization

In 1943, the Direttorio Divisioni Superiori stopped organizing the league, with the Lega Calcio taking over in 1946.

1945: Restoration of North-South Divisions

After World War II, in 1945, the North - South divisions of Divisione Nazionale were restored for the single 1945-46 season.

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.

1946: Restoration of Serie A

In 1946, Serie A was restored and has continued to today.

1946: Lega Calcio organization of Serie A begins

In 1946, the Lega Calcio began organizing Serie A, taking over from the Direttorio Divisioni Superiori until 2010.

1947: Season with 21 Teams

The 1947–48 Serie A season was played with 21 teams due to post-war tensions with Yugoslavia.

1960: Introduction of Coppa Campioni d'Italia Trophy

Since the 1960–61 season, an actual trophy called the Coppa Campioni d'Italia is awarded to the winning club.

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: Playoff to Decide Champion

In the 1963–64 season, Bologna won a playoff against Inter to win the scudetto after both teams finished on 54 points.

1990: Serie A appeared on The Sports Channel

In 1990, Serie A appeared on BSB's The Sports Channel in the UK as part of Football Italia.

1991: Serie A appeared on Sky Sports

In 1991, Serie A appeared on Sky Sports in the UK as part of Football Italia.

1992: Serie A appeared on Channel 4

In 1992, Serie A appeared on Channel 4 in the UK as part of Football Italia.

1994: 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

The document mentions that players born in 1995 or after were eligible.

1998: Abandonment of Collective Negotiation

Serie A clubs abandoned collective negotiation of television rights at the end of the 1998–99 season.

1999: Playoff for European Competition Qualification

In 1999–2000, playoff games were used to decide European competition qualifications.

2000: Playoff for European Competition Qualification

In 1999–2000, playoff games were used to decide European competition qualifications.

2000: Old quota system abolished

In the middle of the 2000-01 season, the old quota system was abolished, which limited each team to having no more than five non-EU players and using no more than three in each match.

July 2001: Footballers banned for using fake passports

In July 2001, the FIGC banned several footballers for lengths ranging from six months to one year for using fake passports.

2002: Number of non-EU players reduced

From the 2002-03 season, the number of non-EU players was reduced.

2002: Serie A appeared on Eurosport

In 2002, Serie A appeared on Eurosport in the UK. Since 2002, the league rarely stayed in one place for long.

2002: Provisional measures introduced for non-EU players

In the 2002-03 season, Serie A and B clubs were allowed to sign only one non-EU player in the 2002 summer transfer window, following provisional measures.

2003: Quota imposed on non-EU players

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: Rule underwent minor changes

In August 2004, the rule regarding non-EU players underwent minor changes.

2004: Serie A appeared on Setanta Sports and Bravo

In 2004, Serie A appeared on Setanta Sports and Bravo in the UK.

2004: Players received EU status

In 2004, players such as Adrian Mutu and Valeri Bojinov received EU status.

2004: No champion awarded

In the 2004-05 season, no champion was awarded in Serie A after Juventus was stripped of their title.

2004: 20 Clubs in Serie A

Since 2004–05, Serie A has featured 20 clubs.

2004: On-Pitch Trophy Presentation

Until 2004, the Coppa Campioni d'Italia was presented at the Lega Nazionale Professionisti head office, but since then it has been presented on-pitch at the end of the last round of games.

June 2005: Rule underwent minor changes

In June 2005, the rule regarding non-EU players underwent minor changes.

2005: Play-offs to Decide League Positions

Before 2005–06, a play-off was 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: Rule underwent minor changes

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, tiebreakers were used to decide the scudetto winner if necessary, though it was never needed.

2006: Number of non-EU players reduced

In the 2006-07 season, the number of non-EU players was reduced to 166.

June 2007: Rule underwent minor changes

In June 2007, the rule regarding non-EU players underwent minor changes.

2007: Serie A appeared on Channel 5

In 2007, Serie A appeared on Channel 5 in the UK.

2007: Players received EU status

In 2007, players such as Marek Jankulovski and Marius Stankevičius received EU status.

2008: Quota system changed again

At the beginning of the 2008-09 season, the quota system changed again: three quotas were awarded to clubs that do not have non-EU players in their squad.

2008: Serie A appeared on Channel 5

In 2008, Serie A appeared on Channel 5 in the UK.

April 2009: Serie A Split from Serie B

In April 2009, Serie A announced a split from Serie B due to arguments over television rights, with Maurizio Beretta becoming president of the new league.

2009: Serie A appeared on ESPN

In 2009, Serie A appeared on ESPN in the UK.

2009: Inter Milan's Continental Treble

In 2009–10, Inter Milan achieved a continental treble.

July 2010: Conditional quota reduced

On 2 July 2010, the conditional quota was reduced back to one.

2010: Introduction of Serie A Logo Featuring TIM

In 2010, Serie A introduced a logo that featured its sponsor Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM).

2010: Lega Serie A Organization

In 2010, the Lega Serie A began organizing Serie A, succeeding the Lega Calcio.

2010: Collective Negotiation of Television Rights

Since the 2010–11 season, Serie A clubs have negotiated television rights collectively rather than individually.

2011: Signing quota reverted to two

In 2011, the signing quota reverted to two.

2013: Serie A appeared on ESPN and BT Sport

In 2013, Serie A appeared on ESPN and BT Sport in the UK.

2015: Cap of 25 introduced

In the 2015-16 season, a cap of 25 players (under-21 players were excluded) was introduced.

2015: Quota announced

In the 2015-16 season, a quota was announced.

April 2016: Serie A Selected for Video Replay Testing

In April 2016, Serie A was selected by the International Football Association Board to test video replays privately.

2016: Minor Change to Serie A Logo

In 2016, the Serie A logo that featured its sponsor Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) had a minor change due to the change of the logo of TIM itself.

2016: FIGC sanctioned Sassuolo

In the 2016-17 season, the FIGC sanctioned Sassuolo for fielding an ineligible player, Antonino Ragusa.

2017: Live Pilot Phase for Video Replays

In the 2017–18 season, replay assistance was implemented in Serie A as a live pilot phase.

August 2018: Announcement of New Serie A Logo

In August 2018, a new Serie A logo was announced.

2018: Serie A appeared 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 Serie A Logo

In August 2019, another new Serie A logo was announced.

2019: Serie A appeared 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, tiebreakers were used to decide the scudetto winner if necessary, though it was never needed.

2021: Serie A appeared 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 being shown in the United States on CBS Sports and its streaming network Paramount+.

2021: Television Rights in Italy

Since 2021, the two broadcasters in Italy are the satellite broadcaster Sky Italia and streaming platform DAZN for its own pay television networks; RAI is allowed to broadcast only highlights.

2021: Introduction of Asymmetrical Calendar

Until the 2021–22 season, the two halves of the Serie A season had the same order of fixtures, but an asymmetrical calendar was introduced following the format of other leagues.