1978–79 A.C. Perugia season

Associazione Calcio Perugia
1978-79 season
Chairman	Franco D'Attoma
Manager	Ilario Castagner
Stadium	Renato Curi
Serie A	2nd; (in UEFA Cup)
Coppa Italia	Quarterfinals
Top goalscorer	League: Speggiorin (9); All: Speggiorin (11)
Average home league attendance	20 984[1]
Home colours	Away colours

During the 1978–79 season A.C. Perugia competed in Serie A and Coppa Italia.

Summary

A.C. Perugia were the first team during the round-robin era to go through the season undefeated, although due to their number of drawn matches, they finished second in the league.

The campaign is best recalled as Perugia and the undefeated season of miracles, The Grifoni, displaying the prowess of the legendary beast their nickname is derived from, produced a feat never before achieved at the highest level of Italian football: going a season undefeated. With the head of a lion and the body of an eagle, there's a majesty about a Gryphon, and in this particular season, Perugia lived up to its reputation. That they failed to secure the Scudetto shouldn't detract from their momentous achievement; it should define it.

‘Never loses, but does not win’ is an ill-thought barb often stabbed at this particular Perugia team's fate, and like so many such disparaging comments, although there is an element of truth in it, there also a substantial amount of bitterness from the tifosi of the more established powers in the game that their team didn't achieve such a record.[2]

With just six games of the season remaining, the unlikely title challengers sat just two points behind leaders Milan and still had to host the Rossoneri after gaining a 1–1 draw away earlier in the campaign.

A win could have ensured that Perugia put themselves in pole position in the run-in but despite being cheered on by an immensely intimidating atmosphere, Gianfranco Casarsa's spot kick which cancelled out Stefano Chiodi's penalty for Milan minutes earlier, meant that the title was Milan's to lose.

Despite disappointing draws away to Catanzaro and Hellas Verona in the weeks that followed, Perugia were still in with a chance of final day success providing that Milan lost and Perugia picked up the win away to Bologna.

Although Salvatore Bagni's brace put the visitors ahead and had their fans dreaming once more, Bologna rallied and fought to a 2–2 draw which brought an end to the fairytale but still meant that despite all the odds, Perugia had not only mustered a title challenge but ended the season without once tasting defeat.[3]

Squad

[4] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	GK	ITA	Marcello Grassi
—	GK	ITA	Nello Malizia
—	GK	ITA	Franco Mancini
—	DF	ITA	Antonio Ceccarini
—	DF	ITA	Paolo Dall'Oro
—	DF	ITA	Mauro Della Martira
—	DF	ITA	Pierluigi Frosio (Captain)
—	DF	ITA	Michele Nappi
—	DF	ITA	Daniele Tacconi
—	DF	ITA	Luciano Zecchini


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	ITA	Salvatore Bagni
—	MF	ITA	Cesare Butti
—	MF	ITA	Paolo Dal Fiume
—	MF	ITA	Mario Goretti
—	MF	ITA	Giorgio Redeghieri
—	MF	ITA	Franco Vannini
—	FW	ITA	Marco Cacciatori
—	FW	ITA	Gianfranco Casarsa
—	FW	ITA	Walter Speggiorin

Transfers

[5][6]

In
Pos.	Name	from	Type
DF	Mauro Della Martira	Fiorentina
MF	Cesare Butti	Torino
MF	Giorgio Redeghieri	Parma
FW	Marco Cacciatori	Carrarese
FW	Gianfranco Casarsa	Fiorentina

To
Pos.	Name	to	Type
DF	Antonio Matteoni	Parma
MF	Mauro Amenta	Fiorentina
MF	Guido Biondi	Lecce
FW	Walter Novellino	A.C. Milan
FW	Walter Sabatini	Palermo
FW	Mario Scarpa	Parma

Competitions

Serie A

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Milan (C)	30	17	10	3	46	19	+27	44	Qualification to European Cup first round
2	Perugia	30	11	19	0	34	16	+18	41	Qualification to UEFA Cup first round
3	Juventus	30	12	13	5	40	23	+17	37	Qualification to Cup Winners' Cup first round
4	Internazionale	30	10	16	4	38	24	+14	36	Qualification to UEFA Cup first round
5	Torino	30	11	14	5	35	23	+12	36	Qualification to UEFA Cup first round

Source: Panini
(C) Champion.

Matches

1 October 1978 1	Perugia	2-0	Lanerossi	Perugia
	Bagni 14' Dal Fiume 88'	Report		Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 16,000 Referee: Longhi

8 October 1978 2	Inter Milan	1-1	Perugia	Milano
	Pasinato 31'	Report	87' Cacciatori	Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 45,000 Referee: Lattanzi

15 October 1978 3	Perugia	1-0	Fiorentina	Perugia
	Casarsa 57' (pen)	Report		Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 35000 Referee: Michelotti

22 October 1978 4	Juventus	1-2	Perugia	Torino
	Cuccureddu 65'	Report	16' Speggiorin 77' Vannini	Stadium: Comunale Attendance: 38,000 Referee: Barbaresco

29 October 1978 5	Perugia	0-0	Avellino	Perugia
		Report		Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 20,000 Referee: Menegali

5 November 1978 6	Atalanta B.C.	0-2	Perugia	Bergamo
		Report	2', 6' Speggiorin	Stadium: Comunale Referee: Agnolin

12 November 1978 7	Perugia	2-0	Ascoli	Perugia
	Speggiorin 5' Dal Fiume 60'	Report		Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Referee: Ciulli

19 November 1978 8	Roma	0-0	Perugia	Roma
		Report		Stadium: Stadio Olimpico Attendance: 65,000 Referee: Casarin

26 November 1978 9	Perugia	0-0	Torino	Perugia
		Report		Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 26,000 Referee: Bergamo

3 December 1978 10	Milan	1-1	Perugia	Milano
	Antonelli 62'		3' Vannini	Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 45 000 Referee: Longhi

10 December 1978 11	Napoli	1-1	Perugia	Napoli
	Majo 55'	Report	62' Speggiorin	Stadium: San Paolo Attendance: 60 000 Referee: Lattanzi

17 December 1978 12	Perugia	1-0	Catanzaro	Perugia
	Speggiorin 61'	Report		Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Referee: Lops

7 January 1979 13	Perugia	1-1	Hellas Verona	Perugia
	Frosio 54'	Report	88' Bergamaschi	Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 15 000 Referee: Lanese

14 January 1979 14	Lazio	0-0	Perugia	Roma
		Report		Stadium: Stadio Olimpico Attendance: 50 000 Referee: Michelotti

21 January 1979 15	Perugia	3-1	Bologna	Perugia
	Casarsa 25', 68' Speggiorin 58'	Report	76' (pen) Bordon	Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 12 000 Referee: Lo Bello

28 January 1979 16	Lanerossi	1-1	Perugia	Vicenza
	Rossi 14'	Report	25' Bagni	Stadium: Stadio Romeo Menti Referee: Benedetti

4 February 1979 17	Perugia	2-2	Inter Milan	Perugia
	Vannini 53' Ceccarini 90'	Report	19' Altobelli 36' Muraro	Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Referee: Longhi

11 February 1979 18	Fiorentina	1-1	Perugia	Firenze
	Sella 9'	Report	21' Speggiorin	Stadium: Comunale Attendance: 50 000 Referee: D'Elia

18 February 1979 19	Perugia	0-0	Juventus	Perugia
		Report		Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 31 224 Referee: Menegali

4 March 1979 20	Avellino	0-1	Perugia	Avellino
		Report	82' Bagni	Stadium: Stadio Partenio Attendance: 30 000 Referee: Agnolin

11 March 1979 21	Perugia	2-0	Atalanta	Perugia
	Osti 16' (o.g.) Bagni 30'	Report		Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 21 000 Referee: Paparesta

18 March 1979 22	Ascoli	0-0	Perugia	Ascoli Piceno
		Report		Stadium: Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca Attendance: 22 000 Referee: Lattanzi

25 March 1979 23	Perugia	1-1	Roma	Perugia
	Peccenini 22' (o.g.)	Report	90' Ugolotti	Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Referee: Barbaresco

1 April 1979 24	Torino	0-0	Perugia	Torino
		Report		Stadium: Stadio Comunale Attendance: 37 000 Referee: Michelotti

8 April 1979 25	Perugia	1-1	Milan	Perugia
	Casarsa 17' (pen)	Report	15' (pen) Chiodi	Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 30 000 Referee: Agnolin

14 April 1979 26	Perugia	2-0	Napoli	Perugia
	Speggiorin 15' Dal Fiume 64'	Report		Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Referee: Casarin

22 April 1979 27	Catanzaro	1-1	Perugia	Catanzaro
	R. Rossi 60'	Report	2' Butti	Stadium: Comunale Attendance: 15 000 Referee: Menegali

29 April 1979 28	Hellas Verona	1-1	Perugia	Verona
	Guidolin 81'	Report	47' (o.g.) Gentile	Stadium: Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi Referee: Lattanzi

6 May 1979 29	Perugia	2-0	Lazio	Perugia
	Bagni 15', 27'	Report		Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 18 000 Referee: Milan

13 May 1979 30	Bologna	2-2	Perugia	Bologna
	Mastalli 40' Bordon 49' (pen)	Report	31', 34' Bagni	Stadium: Comunale Attendance: 40 000 Referee: Casarin

Coppa Italia

Group phase

30 August 1978 2	Perugia	2-0	Pescara	Perugia
	Speggiorin 49' Piacenti 70' (aut.)	Report		Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Referee: Lanzetti

3 September 1978 3	Udinese	1-1	Perugia	Udine
	Vriz 83' (pen)	Report	12' Vannini	Stadium: Stadio Friuli Referee: Panzino

10 September 1978 4	Perugia	4-0	Sambenedettese	Perugia
	Casarsa 7', 50' (rig.) Goretti 26' Speggiorin 57'	Report		Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Referee: Paparesta

17 September 1978 5	Avellino	0-0	Perugia	Avellino
		Report		Stadium: Stadio Partenio Attendance: 25 000 Referee: Longhi

Quarterfinals

25 April 1979	Napoli	2-1	Perugia	Napoli
	Tesser 81' Filippi 88'	Report	54' Dal Fiume	Stadium: Stadio San Paolo Referee: Benedetti

9 May 1979	Perugia	0-0	Napoli	Perugia
		Report		Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Referee: Bergamo

Statistics

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References

"Attendance Statistics of Serie A - 1974-75 to 1985-86".
Gary Thacker (25 July 2018). "Perugia and the undefeated season of miracles". thesefootballtimes.co.
P.Whelan (9 May 2012). "Great Calcio Sides :Perugia". forzaitalianfootball.com.
Panini, 1978, pp. 50-51
Panini (1977). Presenze e reti (in Italian). p. 8..
Panini (1978). Presenze e reti (in Italian). p. 8..

Arrigo Beltrami, Almanacco illustrato del Calcio 1980, Franco Cosimo Panini Editore Modena 1979
Marco Sappino, Dizionario del calcio italiano, 2000, Baldini & Castoldi Milano, ISBN 88-8089-862-0

External links

Maurizio Mariani (26 October 2000). "Italy Championship 1978/79".

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[1] "Attendance Statistics of Serie A - 1974-75 to 1985-86".

[2] Gary Thacker (25 July 2018). "Perugia and the undefeated season of miracles". thesefootballtimes.co.

[3] P.Whelan (9 May 2012). "Great Calcio Sides :Perugia". forzaitalianfootball.com.

[4] Panini, 1978, pp. 50-51

[5] Panini (1977). Presenze e reti (in Italian). p. 8..

[6] Panini (1978). Presenze e reti (in Italian). p. 8..