Genoa CFC

Founding and Early Years

Genoa Cricket and Football Club was founded on 7 September 1893 by British residents of Genoa, making it the oldest football club still active in Italy. Originally a cricket and athletics club, it turned fully to football from 1897 onward, driven by James Richardson Spensley.

Club Evolution

Genoa play at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, opened in 1911, the oldest stadium in Italy, which they have shared with city rivals Sampdoria since 1946. Originally wearing white in a nod to their English founders, the club adopted the halved red-and-navy shirt still worn today in 1901.

Great Managers

William Garbutt, regarded as Italian football's first-ever professional manager, led Genoa to three titles in the 1910s-20s (1914-15, 1922-23, 1923-24). Later, Osvaldo Bagnoli (1989-1992) returned the club to the top, finishing 4th in 1990-91 while unbeaten at home, and reaching a UEFA Cup semi-final in 1991-92.

Iconic Players

Renzo De Vecchi, nicknamed "il Figlio di Dio" (the Son of God), was a two-time champion in the 1920s and captained the Italy national team. Tomáš Skuhravý, the Czech striker of the early 1990s, defined the club's European run, while Diego Milito emerged at Genoa in 2008-09 before joining Inter, where he later won the treble.

Major Achievements

Genoa have won nine Italian league titles (1898, 1899, 1900, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1914-15, 1922-23, 1923-24), the fourth-highest total in the country, along with one Coppa Italia (1936-37).

The Club Today

Led by Daniele De Rossi and chaired by Dan Șucu since January 2025, Genoa finished 16th in Serie A in 2025-26 and remain one of Italian football's most respected historic clubs.