Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio

Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio
Founded2 October 1985; 39 years ago (1985-10-02)
CountrySan Marino
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Number of teams16
Level on pyramid1
Domestic cup(s)Coppa Titano
Super Coppa Sammarinese
International cup(s)UEFA Champions League
UEFA Conference League
Current championsVirtus (1st title)
(2023–24)
Most championshipsS.P. Tre Fiori (8)
Top goalscorerImre Badalassi
(134 goals)
TV partnersSan Marino RTV
WebsiteWebsite
Current: 2024–25 Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio

Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio (English translation: Sammarinese Football Championship) is the highest competition for football clubs located at the only level of the Sammarinese football league system (no relegation system exists) and has been operating since the 1985–1986 season.[1] Currently, Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio is ranked last (55th) among European leagues according to UEFA's league coefficient, which is based on the performance of Sammarinese clubs in the Champions League, Europa League and the Conference League.[2][3]

Rules

Until 1996, the league had two levels, Serie A1 and Serie A2, and a relegation/promotion system. However, the teams promoted from the second level could also participate in the championship play-off against Serie A1's first teams. All the clubs play at the same level since then. Before 2018–2019 season, they were split into two divisions called Girone (or "Groups").[4] The teams played home and away matches in their girone and once against the teams from the other girone. The first three teams in each girone entered a double-elimination play-off tournament, which was the only seen in association football world, to decide the championship winners, who qualified for the UEFA Champions League preliminary phase.

In the 2018–2019 season, the rules changed. All the clubs were still split into two girone. The teams played once against the other teams in the same girone. The top four teams in each girone proceeded to group 1 in the second stage, while the others proceeded to group 2. Teams played twice against each team in the same group. The second and the third team in group 2 proceeded to the play-off. The winner of the play-off, the top team in group 2 and the top 6 teams in group 1 proceeded to the final stage. The championship winner qualified for the UEFA Champions League preliminary phase and the first runner-up qualified for the Europa League preliminary phase.

In the 2020–2021 season, a new format was applied. Now, all the teams play in the same league and play each other twice. At the end of the regular season, the top twelve teams proceed to the play-off tournament, deciding the winner who qualifies for the UEFA Champions League preliminary phase, and the loser of the final for the Conference League preliminary phase.

The domestic cup winners qualify for the Europa Conference League preliminary phase.[5]

Stadiums

Sanmarinese teams do not have home grounds of their own. Instead, the following venues are randomly chosen for every match:

Stadium Capacity City
San Marino Stadium 6,664 Serravalle
Stadio di Dogana Ezio Conti 1,200 Dogana
Stadio di Acquaviva 900 Acquaviva
Stadio di Fiorentino 700 Fiorentino
Stadio Fonte dell'Ovo 600 San Marino
Campo Sportivo di Domagnano 500 Domagnano
Campo Sportivo di Montegiardino 500 Montegiardino
Stadio Serravalle B 500 Serravalle

Sometimes the San Marino Stadium, based in Serravalle, is also used. Since there are not many grounds, matches are played on two days of each week, usually Saturday and Sunday. The play-off finals and the European fixtures are always played in the Stadio Olimpico.

Teams (2023–24)

There are 16 teams in championship.

Locations of the Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio teams
Team City
Cailungo Cailungo
Cosmos Serravalle
Domagnano Domagnano
Faetano Faetano
Fiorentino Fiorentino
Folgore Falciano
Juvenes/Dogana Serravalle
La Fiorita Montegiardino
Libertas Borgo Maggiore
Murata Murata
Pennarossa Chiesanuova
San Giovanni San Giovanni sotto le Penne
San Marino Academy U22 San Marino
Tre Fiori Fiorentino
Tre Penne San Marino
Virtus Acquaviva

Champions

Winners by season

The 2019–20 season was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tre Fiori, with the highest points obtained before the suspension, was crowned champions and qualified for the UEFA Champions League.

Titles by team

Club Titles Runners-up
Tre Fiori 8 4
La Fiorita 6 6
Folgore 5 5
Tre Penne 5 4
Domagnano 4 3
Faetano 3 1
Murata 3 1
Libertas 1 3
Cosmos 1 3
Pennarossa 1 2
Virtus 1 1
Montevito 1 0
Juvenes/Dogana 0 3
San Giovanni 0 1
Cailungo 0 1

Top scorers

Year Top scorer Team Goals
1997–98 San Marino Damiano Vannucci Virtus 21
2003–04 San Marino Damiano Vannucci Virtus 15
2004–05 Italy Matteo Pazzaglia Montevito 19
2009–10 Italy Simon Parma La Fiorita 13
2010–11 San Marino Adolfo Hirsch
San Marino Marco Fantini
Italy Roberto Gatti
Italy Alessandro Giunta
Italy Francesco Viroli
Virtus
Juvenes/Dogana
Murata
Tre Fiori
Faetano
12
2011–12 Italy Cristian Rubén Menin
Italy Simon Parma
Cosmos
La Fiorita
11
2012–13 San Marino Alberto Cannini
Italy Denis Iencinella
Tre Fiori
Fiorentino
17
2013–14 Romania Valentin Grigore
Italy Giacomo Gualtieri
Cosmos
La Fiorita
18
2014–15 Italy Daniele Friguglietti San Giovanni 16
2015–16 Italy Marco Martini La Fiorita 20
2016–17 Italy Marco Martini La Fiorita 27
2017–18 Italy Imre Badalassi Tre Fiori 20
2018–19 Italy Andrea Compagno Tre Fiori 22
2019–20 Italy Eric Fedeli Murata 16
2020–21 Italy Imre Badalassi Folgore 13
2021–22 Italy Imre Badalassi Tre Penne 24
2022–23 Italy Matteo Prandelli Cosmos 21
2023-24 Italy Imre Badalassi Tre Penne 30
Most time goalscorers
Most goals by a player in a single season

See also

References

  1. ^ "San Marino – List of Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  2. ^ "UEFA Country Ranking 2015". Archived from the original on 16 May 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  3. ^ UEFA. "San Marino – Member associations – Inside UEFA". UEFA. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  4. ^ "San Marino and the true meaning of football". thesefootballtimes.co. 2 September 2015. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  5. ^ "uefa.com – Football Europe – News & Features – News Specific". Archived from the original on 8 May 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2007.