It’s hard to believe it turned out this way. On Tuesday evening, in the outskirts of Naples, Sampdoria, a club cherished by many over the past four decades, quietly fell into Serie C for the very first time.
After the final whistle, players from Sampdoria were visibly upset on the field following a disheartening goalless draw against Juve Stabia. Meanwhile, fans of their rivals, Genoa, celebrated with fireworks and chants claiming, “Sampdoria is no longer here.” It’s a grim realization, but it seems Il Doria now has a long journey ahead, far removed from their historic rivalry with Juventus.
The memories of that glorious era in the late 1980s and early 90s feel almost like a distant dream. Those were the days when Sampdoria boasted young, exceptionally talented players like the late Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Mancini—figures who painted a masterpiece in blue, white, and black.
Their accomplishments, such as four Coppa Italia titles from 1985 to 1994, the 1990 European Cup Winners’ Cup, and a European Cup final appearance against Barcelona in 1992, set a standard that now seems unreachable. Yet, even after Sampdoria’s relegation from Serie A in 2023, this sudden drop into the third tier was unexpected.
How did it come to this? In Serie B this season, Sampdoria cycled through four managers. Initially, Andrea Pirlo led the team to a playoff position in 2023-24 but was dismissed after just three games in the current season due to a slow start. Andrea Sottil carried on until December, but things took a turn for the worse under Leonardo Semprini. Frustrated fans expressed their discontent by confronting Semprini and his staff right before his exit.
The latest managerial hire is Alberico Evani, recognizable from the Euro 2020 victory campaign as Mancini’s assistant, often noted for his stylish mustache and glasses. Evani took charge last month, managing to lose only one of his six matches, but alas, nine points in those games weren’t enough to guarantee safety.
Interestingly, the legendary Mancini joined the club this season as an advisor after stepping down from his role in Saudi Arabia last year. Some fans point fingers at Andrea, Mancini’s son and Sampdoria’s sports director, for their uninspired performance. This season alone, the club fielded 38 players, including five goalkeepers. Recent efforts to boost the squad have also stumbled. M’Baye Niang, a seasoned former Milan striker, joined during January on a six-month deal but netted only three times in 16 games. It’s clear that Sampdoria’s struggles run deeper than just ineffective strikers; Niang’s missed opportunities in the match against Juve Stabia were particularly painful to watch.
Past players aren’t the only ones feeling the impact; Paolo Mantovani, a crucial figure in Sampdoria’s history, guided the club through its Golden Era from 1979 until his death in 1993. Recent ownership troubles arose when the former owner resigned after being jailed over corporate fraud issues and bankruptcy concerns. Vialli attempted to revive Sampdoria in January 2023 before his illness and passing. A London-based financial operator, Matteo Manfredi, has since purchased the club, although the previous Leeds United owner has stepped back.
Yet, the new management’s scattershot approach to hiring coaches and signing players—including veteran forward Fabio Borini and 21-year-old Barcelona talent Estanis Pedrola—has not been effective.
So, what lies ahead? Serie C is a regional league split into three groups, with teams auto-promoted and relegated based on target performance and playoffs. Many stadiums at this level hold fewer than 2,000 fans, contrasting sharply with the higher tiers.
Sampdoria, a giant in this category, holds the unfortunate distinction of being the largest club relegated to Serie C, not driven down by financial woes but faced with unpredictable challenges ahead. Several recently demoted Serie A clubs, like Crotone, Perugia, and Pescara, are already battling for a return to former glory. Even a team like SPAL, which was in Serie A just five years ago, is now anxiously competing in a relegation playoff.
This summer, amid the aftermath of relegation from Serie B, Sampdoria is grappling with significant uncertainty. Nineteen players have signed contracts as management evaluates Evani’s future. Will Manfredi continue to invest in the club? Will Mancini become more involved, or will he take a step back? Regardless of the outcome, those who fondly remember the glorious days of the 90s hope things don’t get any worse.
