History of Serie A in Timeline
Serie A is the top professional football league in Italy, operating as a round-robin tournament since 1929-30. The league awards the Coppa Campioni d'Italia trophy and the scudetto to the winning team. Initially organized by various bodies, Lega Serie A has managed it since 2010. Known for its tactical and defensive strength, Serie A is considered one of the world's best football leagues. As of 2023–24, it was ranked the best league by UEFA coefficient.
1909: Inter Milan's Debut in Top Flight Football
In 1909, Inter Milan debuted in the top flight of Italian football and has competed uninterruptedly ever since.
1921: Italian Football Federation Split
In 1921, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) split the CCI (Italian Football Confederation) which founded in Milan the Lega Nord (Northern Football League), ancestor of present-day Lega Serie A.
1922: Earlier Rounds Competed on a Regional Basis
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: Competition Organized into Regional Groups
From 1898 up to 1922, the competition was organized into regional groups.
1923: Introduction of the Scudetto
Since the 1923-24 season, the Serie A Championship title is often referred to as the scudetto and the winning team will bear a small coat of arms with the Italian tricolour on their strip in the following season.
1926: FIGC Internal Changes Due to Crises and Pressures
In 1926, due to internal crises and fascist pressures, the FIGC changed internal settings, adding southern teams to the national division, ultimately leading to the 1929–30 final settlement.
1926: No Champions Awarded
In the 1926-27 season, no champions was awarded after Torino was stripped from their title due to their involvement in football scandals.
1929: League Recognizes Pre-Serie A Champions
Although Serie A was not formed until 1929-30, the league recognizes clubs who were named Italian champions before the league's foundation.
1929: Beginning of League Format
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: Start of Single Round Serie A Championships
From the 1929-30 season until the 2024-25 season, 68 teams have taken part in 93 Serie A championships in a single round.
1929: Start of the Round-Robin Tournament
In 1929, Serie A started operating as a round-robin tournament, marking a significant change in the Italian football league system.
1929: Start of Modern Serie A Structure
In 1929, Serie A, as it is structured today, began, marking a shift in the organization of Italian football.
1929: Italian Football Championship Revised
In 1929, the Italian Football Championship was revised to a single-tier league, moving away from regional and interregional rounds.
1945: Round-Robin Suspended
In 1945, the round-robin format was suspended, and the league was played over two geographical groups due to the impact of World War II.
1947: Season with 21 Teams
The 1947-48 season was played with 21 teams due to political reasons following post-war tensions with Yugoslavia.
1960: Official Use of Coppa Campioni d'Italia
Since the 1960-61 season, the Coppa Campioni d'Italia trophy has officially been used, though it was consigned to winning clubs at the Lega Nazionale Professionisti head office until 2004.
1963: Playoff to Decide Champion
In the 1963-64 season, Bologna won a playoff against Inter Milan to win the scudetto, marking the only time a playoff was used to decide the champion.
1990: Serie A on The Sports Channel
From 1990 to 1991 Serie A has appeared in the UK on BSB's The Sports Channel.
1991: Serie A on Sky Sports
From 1991 to 1992 Serie A has appeared in the UK on Sky Sports.
1992: Serie A on Channel 4
From 1992 to 2002 Serie A has appeared in the UK on Channel 4.
1994: Three Points for a Win
Since the 1994-95 season, teams are awarded three points for a win in Serie A, changing from the previous two points.
1995: Under 21 age eligibility
In 2016-17 season, the players born in 1995 or after were eligible to fulfill the under 21 quota.
1998: Abandonment of Collective Negotiation
Serie A had previously abandoned collective negotiation of television rights at the end of the 1998-99 season.
1999: Playoff to Decide European Competition Qualification
In 1999-2000, playoff games were used to decide European competition qualifications.
2000: Founding of the G-14
In 2000, Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan were founding members of the G-14, a group representing the largest and most prestigious European football clubs.
July 2001: Bans for Using Fake Passports
In July 2001, numerous footballers, including Alberto, Warley, Dida, and Recoba, were banned for using fake passports, with suspensions ranging from six months to one year.
2002: Serie A on Eurosport
From 2002 to 2004 Serie A has appeared in the UK on Eurosport.
2002: Provisional Measures Introduced in the 2002-03 season
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.
2002: Reduction in Non-EU Players
In the 2002–03 season, the number of non-EU players was reduced to 265.
2003: Imposition of Non-EU Player Quota
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 Rule Change
In August 2004, a minor change occurred in the rules regarding non-EU players in Serie A.
2004: Serie A on Setanta Sports and Bravo
From 2004 to 2007 Serie A has appeared in the UK on Setanta Sports and Bravo.
2004: Awarding of Coppa Campioni d'Italia on the Pitch
From the 2004-05 season onwards, an actual trophy, the Coppa Campioni d'Italia, was awarded to the club on the pitch after the last turn of the championship.
2004: EU Enlargement
In 2004, the EU enlargement allowed players like Adrian Mutu to gain EU status.
2004: No Champions Awarded
In the 2004-05 season, no champions was awarded after Juventus were stripped from their title due to their involvement in football scandals.
2004: Increase to 20 Clubs in Serie A
Since the 2004-05 season, Serie A has had 20 clubs competing, an increase from the historical 16 or 18 clubs.
June 2005: Minor Rule Change
In June 2005, a minor change occurred in the rules regarding non-EU players in Serie A.
2005: Play-off Before Tiebreaking
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 to bypass non-EU restrictions, as Romania was not yet in the EU.
June 2006: Minor Rule Change
In June 2006, a minor change occurred in the rules regarding non-EU players in Serie A.
2006: Tiebreakers Used For Places
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: Reduction in Non-EU Players
By the 2006–07 season, the number of non-EU players was reduced to 166.
June 2007: Minor Rule Change
In June 2007, a minor change occurred in the rules regarding non-EU players in Serie A.
2007: Serie A on Channel 5
From 2007 to 2008 Serie A has appeared in the UK on Channel 5.
2007: EU Enlargement
In 2007, the EU enlargement allowed players to gain EU status.
2008: Quota System Changes
At the beginning of the 2008–09 season, the quota system changed, awarding three quotas to clubs without non-EU players and adjusting quotas based on the number of non-EU players.
2008: Serie A on Channel 5
From 2007 to 2008 Serie A has appeared in the UK on Channel 5.
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, leading to the establishment of a new league.
2009: Serie A on ESPN
From 2009 to 2013 Serie A has appeared in the UK on ESPN.
2009: Inter Milan Achieve Seasonal Treble
In the 2009-10 season, Inter Milan became the first Italian team to achieve a seasonal treble.
July 2010: Conditional Quota Reduced
On 2 July 2010, the conditional quota was reduced back to one, but teams without any non-EU players could sign up to three.
2010: Introduction of TIM Sponsored Logo
In 2010, Serie A introduced logos that featured its sponsor Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM).
2010: Collective Negotiation of TV Rights
Since the 2010-11 season, Serie A clubs have negotiated television rights collectively rather than individually.
2011: Signing Quota Reverted
In 2011, the non-EU signing quota reverted to two.
2013: Serie A on BT Sport
From 2013 to 2018 Serie A has appeared in the UK on BT Sport.
2015: Homegrown Players Rule and Cap Introduction
In 2015, Serie A introduced a Homegrown Players Rule, and a cap of 25 players was introduced to the squad for the 2015–16 season.
2015: Announcement of Quota
In the 2015–16 season, a 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, marking a step towards integrating technology into the game.
2016: Minor Change in Logo
In 2016, there was a minor change in Serie A's logo 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: Private Video Replays in Serie A
In 2017 Serie A started private video replays for the season, before allowing them to become a live pilot phase in the 2017-18 season.
2017: Serie A Players in FourFourTwo's 100 Greatest Footballers
In 2017, of the 100 greatest footballers in history chosen by FourFourTwo, 42 players had played in Serie A, more than any other league in the world.
August 2018: New Serie A Logo Announced
In August 2018, a new logo for Serie A was announced, marking a change in the league's visual identity.
2018: Serie A on Eleven Sports Network
In 2018, Serie A has appeared in the UK on Eleven Sports Network.
August 2019: Another New Serie A Logo Announced
In August 2019, another new Serie A logo was announced.
2019: Serie A on Premier, FreeSports
From 2019 to 2021 Serie A has appeared in the UK on Premier, FreeSports.
2021: Tiebreakers Used For Places
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: Introduction of Asymmetrical Calendar
In the 2021-22 season, Serie A introduced an asymmetrical calendar, following the format of the English, Spanish and French leagues.
2021: Serie A on BT Sport
Since 2021 Serie A has appeared in the UK on BT Sport.
2021: Television Rights in Italy
Since the 2021-22 season, the television rights in Italy are for Sky Italia and streaming platform DAZN for its own pay television networks; RAI is allowed to broadcast only highlights.
2022: Playoff to Decide Relegation
In 2022-23, playoff games were used to decide relegation.
2022: Juventus Achieve Historical Confederation Competitions Win
Prior the first Europa Conference League final in 2022, Juventus had won all the historical five official confederation competitions, an achievement reached after its triumph in the 1985 Intercontinental Cup and revalidated after winning a sixth tournament, the UEFA Intertoto Cup, fourteen years later.
2023: Serie A Ranked Best League by UEFA Coefficient
In 2023, Serie A was ranked as the best league by UEFA coefficient, highlighting its growing prominence in European football.
February 2024: Serie A Continues with 20 Club Format
In February 2024, Serie A decided to continue with the 20-club format after a vote against reducing the division to 18 teams.
February 2024: Serie A Signs Sponsor Deal with Eni
On 5 February 2024, Serie A signed a new sponsor deal with Eni, also known as Enilive, to take the main sponsor role.
2024: Top 5 Serie A Clubs Qualify for Champions League
As a result of the UEFA coefficient ranking, the top 5 clubs in Serie A qualify for the Champions League in 2024.
2024: Clubs Playing in the 2024-25 Serie A
As of 2024, these clubs play in the 2024-25 Serie A.
2024: International Rights Sold to Infront Agency
For the 2024-29 cycle, Serie A sold its international rights to the Infront agency (except in United States and MENA).
2024: 68 Teams Participated In Single Round Serie A
From the 1929-30 season until the 2024-25 season, 68 teams have taken part in 93 Serie A championships in a single round.
