Giovanni Ferrari's First Era

Lore & Background

The tangible results of this era were immediate and profound. The team evolved from fighting relegation to consistently challenging for European spots. This success validated Percassi's belief that financial prudence and sporting ambition could coexist, setting the stage for the unprecedented title challenge that would follow in subsequent years.

Reader's Guide

His immediate focus was restructuring the boardroom and aligning it with a new sporting director, Gian Piero Gasperini, to create a unified vision. The early years were defined by patience; the team climbed steadily through the mid-table ranks, establishing a reputation for attractive, high-intensity football. This achievement was not an anomaly but the result of years of strategic planning and smart recruitment. The club proved it could compete against Europe's elite without relying on billionaire owners. This era concluded with the team becoming a consistent top-four force in Serie A, culminating in a historic fourth-place finish that secured their spot in Europe's premier competition. Ferrari's initial tenure laid the unshakeable foundation for the 2023 title challenge, proving that sustainable growth could lead to genuine trophies.

Did You Know?

• Atalanta qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in its history during the presidency of Antonio Percassi.
• The club is renowned for a 'buy low, sell high' model that generated hundreds of millions in profit while maintaining competitiveness.
• Antonio Percassi's leadership ensured continuity in the club's strategic vision, having served as CEO from 2010 to 2016 before becoming president.
• Under this era, Atalanta became known for developing and selling talents like Gianluca Mancini, while Josip Ilicic was signed from Fiorentina and later sold.