COMO, ITALY - MAY 10: Team Como 1907 celebrate their promotion to serie A at the end of the Serie B ... [+]
Como 1907 has won promotion to Serie A on a dramatic final match day in Italy’s second division, marking the club’s return to the top flight for the first time in twenty-one years.
Gennaro Tutino struck his twentieth league goal of the season to give Cosenza the halftime lead at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. Como striker Simone Verdi then scored from the penalty spot with fifteen minutes to go, earning the Lariani a point with his ninth of the campaign.
The draw was more than enough given third-place Venezia's defeat to Spezia.
“We will enjoy tonight because we deserve it,” Verdi told Sky Sport Italia. “We played so many games in which we recovered and overturned results. It surely was the winning mentality of the group which made the difference.”
COMO, ITALY - MAY 10: Simone Verdi of Como 1907 scores his first goal on penalty during the Serie B ... [+]
Como’s rise from bankruptcy is a testament to the collective efforts of the Djarum Group and its strategic appointments of former CEO Dennis Wise, coach Osian Roberts and minor shareholders Thierry Henry and Cesc Fabregas, the latter serving as assistant manager throughout the 2023-24 campaign.
The history-making event was attended by 2006 World Cup finalists Henry and Gianluca Zambrotta, and Leicester City striker Jamie Vardie who won promotion to the English Premier League this season.
By finishing second, Como achieved automatic promotion along with Parma, leaving Venezia, Cremonese, Catanzaro, Palermo, Sampdoria and Brescia to contest the PlayOffs for the third and final spot in Serie A.
Como Did It Before Wrexham
Roberts becomes the first Welsh coach to win promotion from Serie B to Serie A. It’s Como’s third promotion in six years, a colossal turnaround for a club that went bankrupt twice over the past two decades.
Indonesian-owned Djarum Group took control in 2019 when Como competed in Serie D, Italy’s fourth division. Fabregas joined in 2022-23 as a player during the Biancoblu’s second season in Serie B. After retiring, the Spaniard transitioned to coaching in Como’s youth sector and the senior team accordingly.
COMO, ITALY - MAY 10: Cesc Fabregas and Osian Robert of Como celebrate the teams' promotion to serie ... [+]
How It Happened
Como led Venezia by two league points at the beginning of match day 38 but could afford to lose to Cosenza, providing the Venetians failed to beat Spezia.
All ten Serie B matches kicked off simultaneously and Venezia took a first-half lead through Indonesian defender Jay Idzes. Spezia, who needed to win to avoid relegation, rallied in the second half courtesy of two goals in four minutes from Francesco Pio Esposito and Arkadiusz Reca.
Meanwhile, Tutino gave Cosenza the lead at the Sinigaglia. Cutrone later won a penalty for Como which Verdi converted in the 74th minute, more than enough considering former Serie A side Spezia held on to win 2-1 to avoid their second consecutive demotion.
While Venezia fell three short of Como’s 73 league points, Paolo Vanoli’s side secured third place ahead of Cremonese, boosting their chances of hosting the second leg of the Playoff Final on June 2nd.
Semm Cumasch
Taking to X, Como confirmed they’re back in the big time, emblazoning a post with We Are Comaschi in their local dialect.
Located one hour north of Milano, Como became the fifth Serie A club from the Lombardia region, joining AC Milan, Inter Milan, Atalanta and Monza in the top flight.
“We’ve always believed, our Mister (coach) gave us this great mentality,” Verdi added.
“We’ll enjoy it because it’s a club with huge ambitions. Let’s enjoy the night and then see what happens next year.”
COMO, ITALY - MAY 10: Fans of Como 1907 celebrate the teams' promotion to serie A at the end of the ... [+]
