Fiorentina

Lore & Background

Fiorentina has won two Italian league titles, in 1955–56 and again in 1968–69, as well as six Coppa Italia trophies and one Supercoppa Italiana. On the European stage, Fiorentina won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1960–61. They also lost five finals, finishing runners-up in the 1956–57 European Cup (the first Italian team to reach the final in the top continental competition), the 1961–62 Cup Winners' Cup, the 1989–90 UEFA Cup, and in the 2022–23 and 2023–24 editions of the UEFA Conference League, being the first club to record two consecutive final appearances and two consecutive defeats in the competition's history. Fiorentina is one of fifteen European teams that have played in the finals of all three major continental competitions (the European Cup/Champions League, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Cup/Europa League) and in 2023, by reaching the Europa Conference League final, Fiorentina became the first team to reach all four major European club competition finals (excluding the one-off match of the UEFA Super Cup).

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Stadio Artemio Franchi hangs heavy with violet smoke as the final whistle approaches. The Juventus contingent, a sea of black and white, sings defiantly against the roar of the Curva Fiesole. On the pitch, the ball bounces erratically near the penalty box — a moment suspended in time where history seems to weigh on every tackle. A veteran Juve defender clears the danger with a thunderous boot, sending the ball into the night sky above Florence, while the crowd holds its breath, knowing that one mistake here could rewrite the season's narrative forever.

Reader's Guide

Since 1931, the club have played at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, which currently has a capacity of 43,147. The stadium has used several names over the years and has undergone several renovations. Fiorentina are known widely by the nickname Viola, a reference to their distinctive purple colours.

Did You Know?

• Fiorentina was founded in 1926 by Luigi Ridolfi Vay da Verrazzano, who merged CS Firenze and PG Libertas.
• The club won its first scudetto in 1955–56, finishing 12 points ahead of Milan.
• Fiorentina became the first Italian team to reach a European Cup final, in 1956–57.
• The club won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1960–61, beating Rangers.
• Fiorentina's second scudetto came in 1968–69, sealed with a win over Juventus in Turin.

Origins of a Non-Traditional Rivalry

Unlike many historic European derbies rooted in immediate geography or deep political divides, the clash between Fiorentina and Juventus emerged from a unique blend of regional pride and historical grievances. While Turin's Bianconeri attracted fans nationwide due to their unparalleled success, Florence remained steadfastly loyal to its own Viola identity, fostering a sense of local patriotism known as campanilismo. This tension was exacerbated early on by a humiliating 11–0 defeat suffered by the Florentines in 1928, a scoreline that lingered in collective memory for decades. The rivalry truly crystallized in the latter half of the 20th century, fueled not by proximity but by bitterness and accusations of foul play. As Juventus accumulated record-breaking national titles, Fiorentina fans viewed them as the dominant force stealing glory from smaller cities. This dynamic was further complicated by their meetings in cup finals and fierce competition in the transfer market, where any player moving from Florence to Turin was immediately branded a traitor, transforming sporting competition into a deeply personal conflict between two distinct Italian identities.

The Stolen Title of 1982

The rivalry reached an explosive peak during the dramatic conclusion of the 1981–82 Serie A season, where both clubs entered the final matchday level on points. The championship hinged on controversial refereeing decisions in two separate games that day. In Cagliari, Fiorentina saw a legitimate goal disallowed for a push on the goalkeeper, resulting in a draw that kept their hosts safe from relegation but denied them crucial points. Simultaneously, Juventus secured a narrow victory against Catanzaro after being awarded a penalty while the opposition was denied one. This sequence of events allowed Turin to claim their 20th league title, sparking immediate outrage in Florence. Fiorentina's star playmaker Giancarlo Antognoni famously declared that the championship had been stolen from them, a sentiment that resonated deeply with the fanbase. The incident birthed the enduring slogan 'meglio secondo che ladri,' meaning it is better to be second than to be thieves, cementing a narrative of injustice that defined the relationship between the two clubs for generations.

Baggio's Betrayal and the UEFA Cup

The animosity intensified in the late 1980s and early 1990s through high-stakes European competition and controversial player movements. The 1989–90 UEFA Cup final featured an all-Italian showdown, with Fiorentina reaching the stage thanks to their young star Roberto Baggio. However, the two-legged final was marred by disputed refereeing calls, including a missed foul in Turin that allowed Juventus to take the lead. After losing the tie, Fiorentina players and fans shouted accusations of theft at the victorious Bianconeri. The situation deteriorated further when economic pressures forced Fiorentina owner Flavio Pontello to sell Baggio to their arch-rivals for a world-record fee. This transfer triggered severe riots in Florence, with fans besieging club headquarters and throwing Molotov cocktails. Although Baggio later endeared himself to Viola supporters by refusing to take a penalty against them while wearing the Juventus shirt, his move was forever etched as an act of betrayal that deepened the rift between the two cities.

Divergent Paths and Scandals

Following the intense drama of the early 1990s, the rivalry took on a more asymmetrical character as the fortunes of the two clubs diverged significantly. Juventus continued their dominance in Italian football, accumulating numerous league titles and domestic cups to establish themselves as the most successful team in the nation's history. In contrast, Fiorentina faced severe instability, including relegation in 1993 and a catastrophic financial collapse that led to bankruptcy in June 2002. The club was subsequently re-established by the della Valle brothers, forcing them to restart from Serie C2, the fourth tier of Italian football. While Juventus navigated their own scandals during this period, Fiorentina's struggle for survival highlighted the vast gap between the two entities. Despite these disparities, the historical grievances remained potent; the narrative of Juventus as the 'thieves' and Fiorentina as the proud underdogs persisted, ensuring that whenever they met on the pitch, the emotional weight of decades of controversy continued to define their encounters.