Italy’s former Serie A champions and Champions League runners-up, Sampdoria, have experienced their first-ever relegation in the club’s 78-year history.
Two years ago, their relegation from Serie A was already a massive embarrassment, but the club’s downward spiral has continued. Now, they’ve dropped even further, from Serie B to Serie C.
On Tuesday, Sampdoria’s goalless draw with Juve Stabia in Serie B meant they missed out on a chance to play in the relegation playoffs. With 41 points from 38 matches, they finished 18th in the standings, sealing their fate.
This marks the first time in the club’s 78-year history that they’ve faced such a significant relegation.
Sampdoria had its golden years in the late ’80s and early ’90s. They won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in the 1989-90 season, followed by a Serie A title in the next campaign. In those years, the club was a dominant force, with Roberto Mancini and Gianluca Vialli leading a devastating attack. They even reached the final of the European Cup (now the Champions League) in the following season, where they narrowly lost to Barcelona in extra time.
The club has won the Coppa Italia four times, with their last title coming in 1994. However, despite their regular presence in Serie A over the years, they were relegated to Serie B in 2023. Now, they face a new low: Serie C.
This season, Sampdoria started under the management of World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo, but after a string of failures, he was sacked. The club made several managerial changes, with former AC Milan midfielder Alberto Evani taking over in April, but he too couldn’t prevent the team’s fall.
