5️⃣ things you need to know about Cagliari - the deranged and the furious

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To celebrate, we are delving into the history and traditions of some of Serie A's most storied clubs, exploring the beauty and passion which makes them so fascinating and unique.

Today we are looking at...

Who are Cagliari?

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Cagliari are based on the Italian island of Sardinia, and for that reason they are nicknamed the Isolani (Islanders).

Following their one and only Scudetto win in 1970, the Stadio Sant'Elia was constructed, and was used as the venue for all three of England's group matches at Italia '90.

Their biggest triumph in Europe was reaching the semi-finals of the 1993/94 UEFA Cup.

Former Juventus boss Max Allegri made his managerial breakthrough at Cagliari, taking them to an impressive ninth-place finish which earned him the Panchina d'Oro (golden bench) award and a subsequent move to Milan.

Current Italy and Inter midfielder Nicolò Barella was born in Cagliari and came up through their youth system before signing for the Nerazzurri in 2019.

What is the Unipol Domus Stadium like?

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The Unipol Domus stadium was originally named the Sardegna Arena and remains a temporary facility until a permanent ground can be constructed on the site of their former Sant'Elia stadium.

The ground cost just £8m to complete and was finished within four months, allowing it to open in 2017. A small expansion in 2018 has meant that there is a capacity of 16,400.

It's expected that the Unipol Domus will be demolished once the new stadium can be built.

Architectural firm Coliseum have now taken on the project, although it's unknown when the venue – which will be named after legendary player Gigi Riva – will move from the planning stage to actually being constructed.

Who are their Ultras?

There are two main Cagliari Ultra groups named the Sconvolts (meaning the deranged ones) and I Furiosi (the furious ones).

True to their islander status, the Ultras stand alone without any official twinnings with any other clubs.

They hold a very strong rivalry with Napoli, and in fact, the match played this September between the two sides had to be halted for six minutes when the fans began throwing objects at each other.

What is Cagliari famous for?

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Claudio Ranieri is Cagliari's famous adopted son, having first made his name as a manager on the island, winning back-to-back promotions with the club from Serie C2 to the top flight between 1988 and 1991.

What's more, the veteran boss returned to the dugout after 32 years for the 2023/24 campaign, and managed to secure promotion once again, taking them back to straight back up to Serie A after relegation the season before.

This incredible achievement from the 72-year-old sparked emotional scenes that will never be forgotten in Cagliari.

Former boxer Joe Calzaghe is also one of Cagliari's famous exports, with his father having been born on the island. The Calzaghe family returned to live in Sardinia for a brief period when Joe was a child before returning to Britain.

Their biggest achievement?

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Cagliari's biggest achievement is undoubtedly their Scudetto win in 1969/70.

Not only was that title monumental considering the size of the club, but they became the first side based south of Rome to lift the Serie A trophy.

They pulled off that famous win thanks to their star player Gigi Riva, who remains Italy's all-time top goalscorer with a total of 35 from just 42 caps.

📸 Enrico Locci - 2024 Getty Images