1963–64 Bologna FC 1909 season

During 1963–64 season Bologna F.C. competed in Serie A, Coppa Italia and Mitropa Cup.

Bologna Football Club
1963-64 season
ChairmanRenato Dall'Ara
(until 4 June).[1]
Luigi Goldoni
ManagerFulvio Bernardini
Serie A (in European Cup)[2]
Coppa ItaliaQuarterfinals
Mitropa CupSemifinals
Top goalscorerLeague: Nielsen (21)
All: Nielsen (25)

Summary

edit

After World War II, the club was less successful. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the club generally floated between fourth, fifth and sixth position in the league, Things started to turn around when new manager and former 1928 Italy national team Olympian Fulvio Bernardini took his place on the Bologna touchline. On his resume, was Fiorentina's 1956 Serie A championship. On his arrival at the club, the side was already well stocked with talented players, but a few crucial ingredients were missing that would make Bologna true title contenders once again. Bernardini made several quality acquisition, such as the purchase of Harald Nielsen, a Denmark Olympic squad member who caught Bologna's eye at the Rome 1960 Games. Helmut Haller, the German international, also came on board. Like Nielsen, Haller was an amateur player who divided his time between football and driving a truck for a living. The club's owner, Renato Dall’Ara, personally went to Germany to sign the player. However, on his way back to Italy, Dall’Ara's car skidded off the road and crashed into a ditch. Without missing a beat, the old man emerged from the wreck waving Haller's contract and shouting, “Don’t worry about the accident, what matters is that we got this piece of paper signed!”

The next season, Haller and teammates like Ezio Pascutti with his spectacular diving headers delighted the Bologna faithful. However, they still only managed a fourth place finish and the finger was pointed at goalkeeper Santarelli, who at times was guilty of poor mistakes. The finishing touch came with the purchase of former Italy national team goalkeeper William Negri. Three wins a row launched the 1963/64 season, and despite a stuttering start after that, it was a win over Genoa that got Bologna's season back on track. The team regrouped and travelled to the San Siro for a difficult test against Inter. They played excellently, and Negri put in a top performance between the sticks, and the game ended in a goalless draw. From here, Bologna gained confidence and marched to ten successive victories, progressively making their way up the table. Nobody could believe what they were seeing. Even Helenio Herrera was shocked when his Inter lost in their second meeting. The Rossoblu kept moving towards their 7th Scudetto with a 2–1 win over AC Milan after which they found themselves leading both Milan clubs in the standings by three points. But three days after the Milan victory, everything came crashing down.

In March, the Italian Football Federation issued a statement that 5 Bologna players had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. They were immediately suspended and the club was docked 3 points. Everyone associated with Bologna FC was shocked, and nobody doubted the innocence of the players implicated for a moment. The notoriously tough and emotionless Fulvio Bernardini was in tears. So close to finally winning another title after a 23-year wait, it was about to be ripped away from them. Well, Bologna were having none of it. Protest marches exploded in the streets, the local media cried foul in the newspapers, and a team of Bolognese lawyers took on the case. While all this was happening, Renato Dall’Ara, by now an elderly man, was on the way out with a failing heart. The Bolognese prosecutor discovered that the tubes containing the urine samples from the players were not adequately sealed – therefore, anyone could have tampered with the specimens. In addition, the methamphetamine the samples contained was enough to kill a man. Meanwhile, other samples from the players, taken at the same time, were found perfectly sealed, in a double-locked refrigerator, with no traces of drugs whatsoever. The plot thickened. In the end, the players were acquitted of any wrongdoing. It was determined that the entire affair was an act of sabotage on behalf of the northern clubs to derail Bologna's season.

However, Bologna still lost 3 points while investigations continued and because of that, they struggled to keep up with Inter in the race for the Scudetto. The two teams matched each other win for win while Bologna anxiously awaited for the final investigation results. Finally it came – an established lack of evidence of any wrongdoing meant that the crucial three points would be returned to Bologna, bringing them level with Inter, with just three games to go. At the end of the season, both teams were still on equal points, which meant that for the first and only time in the history of the Serie A, a playoff would decide the ultimate champions. Four days before this penultimate match however, Bologna's emblematic president of 30 years, Renato Dall’Ara, died from a heart attack in the middle of a meeting in the offices of the Federation. The players were in tears, as Dall’Ara was not only their employer, he was like their father. Bologna's season from hell continued.:[3] In his honour, Bologna took to the pitch against an Inter side who had just become European champions. Finally, the play-off kicked off.

After a goalless first half, the Bolognese side outclassed team from Milan and won 2–0. The Scudetto, to this day their last, was finally theirs, despite everything that had taken place. Bologna never gave up. Time and again, just when it seemed like it couldn't get any worse, it did – but they just kept on going and the reward for their perseverance was the Scudetto.[4] [5]

Squad

edit

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 William Negri
GK   ITA Rino Rado
DF   ITA Carlo Furlanis
DF   ITA Mirko Pavinato (Captain)
DF   ITA Paride Tumburus
DF   ITA Francesco Janich
DF   ITA Bruno Capra
DF   ITA Edmondo Lorenzini
DF   ITA Tazio Roversi
MF   FRG Helmut Haller
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF   URU Héctor Demarco
MF   ITA Romano Fogli
MF   ITA Giacomo Bulgarelli
MF   ITA Marino Perani
MF   ITA Bruno Franzini
MF   ITA Sidio Corradi
FW   DEN Harald Nielsen
FW   ITA Ezio Pascutti
FW   ITA Antonio Renna

Transfers

edit

[6]

In
Pos. Name from Type
GK William Negri Mantova
Out
Pos. Name To Type
MF Renzo Ragonesi Catanzaro

Competitions

edit

Serie A

edit

League table

edit
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Bologna (C) 34 22 10 2 54 18 +36 54 Qualification to European Cup[a]
2 Internazionale[b] 34 23 8 3 54 21 +33 54
3 Milan 34 21 9 4 58 28 +30 51 Chosen for Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
4 Fiorentina 34 14 10 10 43 27 +16 38
4 Juventus 34 14 10 10 49 37 +12 38
Source: Panini
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ Inter qualified as defending champions.
  2. ^ After the title tie-breaker with Bologna (2–0).

Results by round

edit
Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435
GroundHAHAHAAHHAAHAHAHHHAAAHAHHAAHHAHAAHA
ResultDDWWWDLDWDWWWWWWWWWDDDWWWLWWWWDDWWW
Position77411355533322211111111111111111111
Source: Competitive matches
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss;   = Leader, 1964-65 European Cup;   = 1964–65 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup

Matches

edit
15 September 1963 1 Bologna 1-1 Genoa Bologna
Pascutti   61'   79' Piaceri Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Ettore Carminati
22 September 1963 2 Torino 0-0 Bologna Torino
Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Antonio Sbardella
25 September 1963 3 Bologna 2-0 Atalanta Bologna
Bulgarelli   31', 68' Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Giuseppe Cirone
29 September 1963 4 Bologna 2-0 Fiorentina Bologna
Nielsen   20'
Bulgarelli   30'
Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Concetto Lo Bello
6 October 1963 5 Modena 1-4 Bologna Modena
Toro   66'   11', 43', 50' Nielsen
  72' Pascutti
Stadium: Stadio Alberto Braglia
Referee: Giulio Campanati
20 October 1963 6 Bologna 2-2 Milan Bologna
Haller   48'
Bulgarelli   53'
  73' Mora
  90' (aut.) Capra
Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Giuseppe Adami
23 October 1963 7 Sampdoria 2-0 Bologna Genova
Frustalupi   17'
Wisnieski   20'
Stadium: Stadio Luigi Ferraris
Referee: Bruno De Marchi
27 October 1963 8 SPAL 0-0 Bologna Ferrara
Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Cesare Jonni
3 November 1963 9[7] Bologna 4-0 Roma Bologna
Nielsen   36', 62', 80'
Perani   84'
Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Gennaro Marchese
17 November 1963 10 Inter 0-0 Bologna Milan
Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Referee: Bruno De Marchi
24 November 1963 11 Bologna 3-0 Lanerossi Bologna
Nielsen   14'
Haller   75'
Bulgarelli   81'
Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Concetto Lo Bello
1 December 1963 12 Bari 0-1 Bologna Bari
  1' Nielsen Stadium: Stadio della Vittoria
Referee: Iginio Rigato
8 December 1963 13 Catania Calcio 1-3 Bologna Catania
Fanello   63'   46', 49', 75' Nielsen Stadium: Stadio Cibali
Referee: Antonio Sbardella
22 December 1963 14 Bologna 2-1 Mantova Bologna
Nielsen   7'
Pascutti   18'
  89' Mazzero Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Alessandro D'Agostini
29 December 1963 15 Bologna 2-1 Juventus Bologna
Nielsen   37'
Bulgarelli   50'
  76' Sívori Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Francesco Francescon
5 January 1964 16 Messina 0-2 Bologna Messina
  64' Perani
  80' Pascutti
Stadium: Stadio Giovanni Celeste
Referee: Antonio Sbardella
12 January 1964 17 Lazio 1-2 Bologna Roma
Morrone   76'   39' Tumburus
  81' Demarco
Stadium: Stadio Olimpico
Referee: Concetto Lo Bello
26 January 1964 18 Genoa 0-2 Bologna Genova
  52' (pen) Haller
  76' Pascutti
Stadium: Stadio Luigi Ferraris
Referee: Cesare Jonni
2 February 1964 19 Bologna 4-1 Torino Bologna
Nielsen   16'
Pascutti   52'
Bulgarelli   60', 82'
  83' Hitchens Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Antonio Sbardella
9 February 1964 20 Atalanta 1-1 Bologna Bergamo
Magistrelli   36'   28' Fogli Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Alessandro D'Agostini
16 February 1964 21 Fiorentina 0-0 Bologna Firenze
Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Concetto Lo Bello
23 February 1964 22 Bologna 0-0 Modena Bologna
Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Antonio Sbardella
1 March 1964 23 Milan 1-2 Bologna Milan
Amarildo   6'   10' Nielsen
  36' Pascutti
Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Referee: Bruno De Marchi
8 March 1964 24 Bologna 1-0 Sampdoria Bologna
Haller   30' (pen) Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Iginio Rigato
22 March 1964 26 Roma 0-1 Bologna Roma
  17' (pen) Haller Stadium: Stadio Olimpico
Referee: Francesco Francescon
29 March 1964 27 Bologna 1-2 Inter Bologna
Furlanis   76'   19' Corso
  49' Jair
Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Bruno De Marchi
5 April 1964 28 Lanerossi 1-3 Bologna Vicenza
Vinício   22'   47' Pascutti
  51' Nielsen
  87' Haller
Stadium: Stadio Romeo Menti
Referee: Cesare Jonni
14 April 1964 25 Bologna 2-1 SPAL Bologna
Nielsen   26'
Perani   73'
  88' Muccini Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Gennaro Marchese
19 April 1964 29 Bologna 3-1 Bari Bologna
Nielsen   28', 87'
Perani   43'
  79' Rossi Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Antonio Sbardella
26 April 1964 30 Bologna 1-0 Catania Calcio Bologna
Nielsen   18' Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Giorgio Genel
3 May 1964 31 Mantova 0-0 Bologna Mantova
Stadium: Stadio Danilo Martelli
Referee: Francesco Francescon
17 May 1964 32 Juventus 0-0 Bologna Torino
Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Cesare Jonni
24 May 1964 33 Bologna 2-0 Messina Bologna
Perani   7', 16' Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Bruno De Marchi
31 May 1964 34 Bologna 1-0 Lazio Bologna
Haller   17' (rig.) Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Marchese

Championship tie-breaker

edit
7 June 1964 Bologna 2-0 Inter Roma
17:00 Facchetti   75' (aut.)
Nielsen   84'
Report Stadium: Stadio Olimpico
Referee: Concetto Lo Bello

Coppa Italia

edit

First round

edit
8 September 1963 Udinese 0-2 Bologna Udine
  10' Haller
  40' Nielsen
Stadium: Stadio Moretti
Referee: Sergio Ferrari

Second round

edit
13 November 1963 Hellas Verona 0-1 Bologna Verona
  93' (o.g.) Peretta Stadium: Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi

Third round

edit
13 May 1964 Bologna 4-2 SPAL Bologna
Nielsen   9'
Perani   12'
Bulgarelli   17'
Renna   53'
  39' Crippa
  71' Matassini
Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Alfeo Grignani

Quarterfinals

edit
10 June 1964 Juventus 4-1 Bologna Torino
Bercellino II   11'
Sívori   32'
Menichelli   40', 46'
  42' Renna Stadium: Comunale
Referee: Aurelio Angonese

Mitropa Cup

edit

Quarterfinals

edit
18 June 1964 Bologna 1-0  OFK Belgrado Bologna
Pantani   69' Stadium: Comunale
Referee:  Wlachojanis
20 June 1964  OFK Belgrado 2-2 Bologna Belgrado
Milosev   52'
Cebinac   78'
  61' Vinicio
  84' Corradi
Stadium: Omladinski Stadium
Referee:  Fehervari

Semifinals

edit
1 July 1964 Bologna 2-2  Sparta Prague Bologna
Corradi   9'
Pantani   39'
  10' (aut.)   59' (aut.) Tentorio Stadium: Comunale
Referee:  Mayer
9 July 1964  Sparta Prague 3-0 Bologna Prague
Mráz   69'
Mašek   77'
Dyba   85'
Stadium: Stadion Letná
Referee:  Schiller

Statistics

edit
Competition Points Home Away Total DR
G W D L Gs Ga G W D L Gs Ga G W D L Gs Ga
Serie A 54 17 13 3 1 33 10 17 9 7 1 21 8 34 22 10 2 54 18 +36
Spareggio - - - - - - 1 1 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2
Coppa Italia 1 1 0 0 4 2 3 2 0 1 4 4 4 3 0 1 8 6 +2
Mitropa Cup 2 1 1 0 3 2 2 0 1 1 2 5 4 1 2 1 5 7 −2
Totals 20 15 4 1 40 14 23 12 8 3 29 17 43 27 12 4 69 31 +38

Players statistics

edit

[8]

Appearances

edit

Goalscorers

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "L'uomo che costruì il grande Bologna degli anni '30". www.enciclopediadelcalcio.it. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  2. ^ After spareggio against Inter competing of Scudetto.
  3. ^ "Cinque calciatori del Bologna accusati di "doping, La capolista rischia la penalizzazione di tre punti". La Stampa. 5 March 1964.
  4. ^ Giuseppe Bagnati (19 February 2009). "Quando Bologna-Inter decideva lo scudetto". Gazzetta.it.
  5. ^ "Il Bologna di Bernardini e lo storico spareggio". gazzetta.it.
  6. ^

    C.F. Chiesa

    — p. 291
    .
  7. ^ Round rescheduled to 19 January 1964 due to match of the Italy National football Team.
  8. ^ Panini. p. 147..
  • C.F. Chiesa (2019). calcio serie a. ISBN 978-88-3324-184-5.
  • Almanacco illustrato del calcio - La storia 1898-2004,Modena. Panini,2004.
  • Gli scudetti dimenticati: Bologna 1963-64 - Giallo a lieto fine,Manaresi Filippo, 1999.
  • Il grande romanzo dello scudetto, Chiesa Carlo F.
  • Federico Monti (2017). calcio serie a. ISBN 978-88-7381-866-3.
edit