The Italian football champions (Italian: Scudetto, "little shield", plural: scudetti) are the annual winners of Serie A, Italy's premier annual football league competition. The title has been contested since 1898 in varying forms of competition. While Internazionale are the current champions, Juventus has won a record 27 championship titles. The first time the Scudetto was used was in 1924 when Genoa won its 9th championship title and decided to add a little shield to their shirt as to reward and celebrate themselves as champions.
The finals of the first Italian Football Championship was decided in a single day with four teams competing, three from Turin and one from Genoa. The title was decided using a knock-out format between the finalists with Genoa Cricket and Athletic Club, the inaugural winners. The knock-out format was used until the 1909–10 season, when a league consisting of nine teams was formed. The regular league season was followed by a championship game featuring the first and second place teams. The championship, which had been confined to a single league in the north of Italy, became a national competition in 1929 with the foundation of Serie A and Serie B.
Several times in history mark when a champion was not named. World Wars suspended the official Championship from both 1915 to 1919 and 1943 to 1945, although unofficial championships were contested in both 1916 and 1944. Match fixing prevented a champion being declared in both the 1926–27 and 2004–05 seasons with Torino Football Club and Juventus Football Club being stripped of their titles, respectively.
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The first official national football tournament was organised in 1898 by the Italian Football Federation (Italian: Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio, FIGC).[1] This tournament, the final matches of the first Italian Football Championship, were held in a single day on 8 May 1898 in Turin. Genoa Cricket and Athletic Club were crowned as champions, defeating Internazionale Torino by 3–1, following extra time.[1] In the following years, the tournament was structured into regional groups with the winners of each group participating in a playoff with the eventual winners being declared champions. The format was modified for the 1909–10 season which was played in a league format. Nine clubs participated playing each other both home and away, and with the clubs finishing first and second playing for the championship in a single playoff final. This season was the first victory for Football Club Internazionale Milano, who defeated Unione Sportiva Pro Vercelli Calcio in the final by a score of 10–3.[2] The 1912–13 season saw the competition nationalised with North and South divisions.[3] In 1916, Associazione Calcio Milan won the Coppa Federale, which for that season was a substitute for the championship, which had been suspended because of World War I.[4] The tournament that year was limited to clubs from the north, with the exception of Pro Vercelli, but was not treated as an official trophy or recognised by FIGC as an Italian title.
Controversy hit the Championship in the 1921–22 season which saw the major clubs (including Pro Vercelli, Bologna and Juventus) in dispute with the FIGC. The teams had asked for a reduction in the number of clubs in the top division in accordance with a plan drawn up by Vittorio Pozzo, the Italian national team coach. Pozzo's plan was dismissed and the CCI (Italian: Confederazione Calcistica Italiana) was founded and organised a 1921–22 CCI league to run concurrently with the 1921–22 season organised by the FIGC.[5] Further scandal followed in the 1926–27 season when title-winners Torino Football Club were stripped of their Scudetto following an FIGC investigation. A Torino official was found to have bribed opposing defender Luigi Allemandi in Torino's match against Juventus on 5 June 1927, and thus the season finished with no declared champions.[6]
Following the scandal of match-fixing and the split between the FIGC and the CCI, the Viareggio charter was drawn up to legalise professionalism, ban foreign players, and rationalise the championship from its regionalised state into national leagues: the Serie A and Serie B.[7] The 1929–30 season was the inaugural Serie A season and was won by Ambrosiana. The next 11 years were also dominated by Juventus Football Club and Bologna Football Club 1909, when all of the Scudetti were won between the three of them. The competition was truncated as the Championship was suspended in 1943 due to World War II.[5] A Championship was held in 1944, the Campionato Alta Italia, and won by Spezia Calcio 1906.[8] The title was not officially recognised by FIGC until 2002 and even then the Scudetto is considered a "decoration."[9]
The post-war years were dominated by Il Grande Torino (The Great Turin), a team which found a dramatic end in the Superga air disaster in 1949.[5] The 1950s saw the gradual emergence of Associazione Calcio Milan, with the help of Swedish striker Gunnar Nordahl, who was Serie A's leading scorer (Italian: Capocannonieri) for five out of six seasons. Juventus began to dominate throughout the 1970s and early 1980s with nine Scudetti in fifteen seasons while the 1990s saw Milan come to prominence.[5]
Serie A was dealt another blow by the 2006 Serie A scandal which involved alleged widespread match fixing implicating league champions Juventus, and other major teams including AC Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio, and Reggina.[10] The FIGC ruled Juventus be stripped of their title, relegated to Serie B and start the following season with a nine-point deduction. The other clubs involved suffered similarly with relegation and points deduction.[11]
Year | Winner | Runners-up | Top scorer (club) (goals) |
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1897–98 | Genoa Cricket & Football Club (1) | Internazionale Torino | ![]() |
1898–99 | Genoa (2) | Internazionale Torino | |
1899–00 | Genoa (3) | Torinese | |
1900–01 | Milan Cricket & Football Club (1) | Genoa | ![]() |
1901–02 | Genoa (4) | Milan | |
1902–03 | Genoa (5) | Juventus | |
1903–04 | Genoa (6) | Juventus | |
1904–05 | Juventus Football Club (1) | Genoa | |
1905–06 | Milan (2) | Juventus | ![]() |
1906–07 | Milan (3) | Torino | ![]() |
1907–08 | Unione Ginnica Pro Vercelli (1) | US Milanese | |
1908–09 | Pro Vercelli (2) | US Milanese | |
1909–10 | Football Club Internazionale Milano (1) | Pro Vercelli | |
1910–11 | Pro Vercelli (3) | Milan (League) Vicenza (National) |
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1911–12 | Pro Vercelli (4) | Milan (League) Venezia (National) |
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1912–13 | Pro Vercelli (5) | Genoa (League) Lazio (National) |
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1913–14 | Unione Ginnica Casale (1) | Genoa (League) Lazio (National) |
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1914–15 | Genoa (7) [12] | Torino | |
1916 | Milan [13] | Juventus | → Unofficial title |
1916–19 |
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1919–20 | Internazionale (2) | Juventus (League) Livorno (National) |
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1920–21 | Pro Vercelli (6) | Bologna (League) Pisa (National) |
|
1921–22 (C.C.I.) |
Pro Vercelli (7) | Genoa (League) Fortitudo Roma (National) |
|
1921–22 (F.I.G.C.) |
Unione Ginnica Novese (1) | Sampierdarenese | |
1922–23 | Genoa (8) | Pro Vercelli (League) Lazio (National) |
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1923–24 | Genoa (9) | Bologna (League) Savoia (National) |
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1924–25 | Bologna Football Club (1) | Genoa (League) Alba Trastevere (National) |
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1925–26 | Juventus (2) | Bologna (League) Alba Trastevere (National) |
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1926–27 | No winner [14] | Bologna | ![]() |
1927–28 | Torino Football Club (1) | Genoa | ![]() |
1928–29 | Bologna (2) | Torino | ![]() |
Year | Winner | Runners-up | Top scorer (club) (goals) |
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1929–30 | Internazionale (3) | Genoa | ![]() |
1930–31 | Juventus (3) | Roma | ![]() |
1931–32 | Juventus (4) | Bologna | ![]() ![]() |
1932–33 | Juventus (5) | Internazionale | ![]() |
1933–34 | Juventus (6) | Internazionale | ![]() |
1934–35 | Juventus (7) | Internazionale | ![]() |
1935–36 | Bologna (3) | Roma | ![]() |
1936–37 | Bologna (4) | Lazio | ![]() |
1937–38 | Internazionale (4) | Juventus | ![]() |
1938–39 | Bologna (5) | Torino | ![]() ![]() |
1939–40 | Internazionale (5) | Bologna | ![]() |
1940–41 | Bologna (6) | Internazionale | ![]() |
1941–42 | Associazione Sportiva Roma (1) | Torino | ![]() |
1942–43 | Torino (2) | Livorno | ![]() |
1944 | Spezia Calcio [15] | Torino | → Unofficial title |
1944–45 |
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1945–46 | Torino (3) | Juventus | ![]() |
1946–47 | Torino (4) | Juventus | ![]() |
1947–48 | Torino (5) | Milan | ![]() |
1948–49 | Torino (6) [16] | Internazionale | ![]() |
1949–50 | Juventus (8) | Milan | ![]() |
1950–51 | Milan (4) | Internazionale | ![]() |
1951–52 | Juventus (9) | Milan | ![]() |
1952–53 | Internazionale (6) | Juventus | ![]() |
1953–54 | Internazionale (7) | Juventus | ![]() |
1954–55 | Milan (5) | Udinese | ![]() |
1955–56 | Associazione Calcio Fiorentina (1) | Milan | ![]() |
1956–57 | Milan (6) | Fiorentina | ![]() |
1957–58 | Juventus (10) | Fiorentina | ![]() |
1958–59 | Milan (7) | Fiorentina | ![]() |
1959–60 | Juventus (11) | Fiorentina | ![]() |
1960–61 | Juventus (12) | Milan | ![]() |
1961–62 | Milan (8) | Internazionale | ![]() ![]() |
1962–63 | Internazionale (8) | Juventus | ![]() ![]() |
1963–64 | Bologna (7) | Internazionale | ![]() |
1964–65 | Internazionale (9) | Milan | ![]() ![]() |
1965–66 | Internazionale (10) | Bologna | ![]() |
1966–67 | Juventus (13) | Internazionale | ![]() |
1967–68 | Milan (9) | Napoli | ![]() |
1968–69 | Fiorentina (2) | Cagliari | ![]() |
1969–70 | Cagliari Calcio (1) | Internazionale | ![]() |
1970–71 | Internazionale (11) | Milan | ![]() |
1971–72 | Juventus (14) | Milan | ![]() |
1972–73 | Juventus (15) | Milan | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
1973–74 | Società Sportiva Lazio (1) | Juventus | ![]() |
1974–75 | Juventus (16) | Napoli | ![]() |
1975–76 | Torino (7) | Juventus | ![]() |
1976–77 | Juventus (17) | Torino | ![]() |
1977–78 | Juventus (18) | Vicenza | ![]() |
1978–79 | Milan (10) | Perugia | ![]() |
1979–80 | Internazionale (12) | Juventus | ![]() |
1980–81 | Juventus (19) | Roma | ![]() |
1981–82 | Juventus (20) | Fiorentina | ![]() |
1982–83 | Roma (2) | Juventus | ![]() |
1983–84 | Juventus (21) | Roma | ![]() |
1984–85 | Hellas Verona (1) | Torino | ![]() |
1985–86 | Juventus (22) | Roma | ![]() |
1986–87 | Società Sportiva Napoli (1) | Juventus | ![]() |
1987–88 | Milan (11) | Napoli | ![]() |
1988–89 | Internazionale (13) | Napoli | ![]() |
1989–90 | Napoli (2) | Milan | ![]() |
1990–91 | Unione Calcio Sampdoria (1) | Milan | ![]() |
1991–92 | Milan (12) | Juventus | ![]() |
1992–93 | Milan (13) | Internazionale | ![]() |
1993–94 | Milan (14) | Juventus | ![]() |
1994–95 | Juventus (23) | Lazio | ![]() |
1995–96 | Milan (15) | Juventus | ![]() ![]() |
1996–97 | Juventus (24) | Parma | ![]() |
1997–98 | Juventus (25) | Internazionale | ![]() |
1998–99 | Milan (16) | Lazio | ![]() |
1999–00 | Lazio (2) | Juventus | ![]() |
2000–01 | Roma (3) | Juventus | ![]() |
2001–02 | Juventus (26) | Roma | ![]() ![]() |
2002–03 | Juventus (27) | Internazionale | ![]() |
2003–04 | Milan (17) | Roma | ![]() |
2004–05 | No winner [17] | Milan | ![]() |
2005–06 | Internazionale (14) [18] | Roma [18] | ![]() |
2006–07 | Internazionale (15) | Roma | ![]() |
2007–08 | Internazionale (16) | Roma | ![]() |
2008–09 | Internazionale (17) | Juventus | ![]() |
2009–10 | Internazionale (18) | Roma | ![]() |
The following table lists the performance of each club describing winners of the Championship.
Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning seasons |
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Juventus |
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1905, 1925–26, 1930–31, 1931–32, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1949–50, 1951–52, 1957–58, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1966–67, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1994–95, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03 |
Internazionale |
|
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1909–10, 1919–20, 1929–30, 1937–38, 1939–40, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1962–63, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1970–71, 1979–80, 1988–89, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10 |
Milan |
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1901, 1906, 1907, 1950–51, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1961–62, 1967–68, 1978–79, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04 |
Genoa |
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1898, 1899, 1900, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1914–15, 1922–23, 1923–24 |
Torino |
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1927–28, 1942–43, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1975–76 |
Bologna |
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1924–25, 1928–29, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1938–39, 1940–41, 1963–64 |
Pro Vercelli |
|
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1908, 1909, 1910–11, 1911–12, 1912–13, 1920–21, 1921–22 (CCI) |
Roma |
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1941–42, 1982–83, 2000–01 |
Fiorentina |
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1955–56, 1968–69 |
Napoli |
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1986–87, 1989–90 |
Lazio |
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1973–74, 1999–00 |
Cagliari |
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1969–70 |
Casale |
|
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1913–14 |
Novese |
|
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1921–22 (FIGC) |
Sampdoria |
|
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1990–91 |
Verona |
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|
1984–85 |
The following table lists the Italian football champions by city.
City | Titles | Winning Clubs |
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Internazionale (18), Milan (17) |
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Juventus (27), Torino (7) |
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Genoa (9), Sampdoria (1) |
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Bologna (7) |
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Pro Vercelli (7) |
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Roma (3), Lazio (2) |
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Fiorentina (2) |
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Napoli (2) |
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Cagliari (1) |
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Casale (1) |
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Novese (1) |
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Verona (1) |
The following table lists the Italian football champions by province.
Province | Titles | Winning Clubs |
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Milan |
|
Internazionale (18), Milan (17) |
Turin |
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Juventus (27), Torino (7) |
Genoa |
|
Genoa (9), Sampdoria (1) |
Bologna |
|
Bologna (7) |
Vercelli |
|
Pro Vercelli (7) |
Rome |
|
Roma (3), Lazio (2) |
Alessandria |
|
Casale (1), Novese (1) |
Florence |
|
Fiorentina (2) |
Naples |
|
Napoli (2) |
Cagliari |
|
Cagliari (1) |
Verona |
|
Verona (1) |
The following table lists the Italian football champions by region.
Region | Titles | Winning Clubs |
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Juventus (27), Pro Vercelli (7), Torino (7), Casale (1), Novese (1) |
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Internazionale (18), Milan (17) |
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Genoa (9), Sampdoria (1) |
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Bologna (7) |
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Roma (3), Lazio (2) |
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Napoli (2) |
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Fiorentina (2) |
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Cagliari (1) |
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Verona (1) |
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