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

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

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

Transfers

[6]

In
Pos. Name from Type
GKWilliam NegriMantova
Out
Pos. Name To Type
MFRenzo RagonesiCatanzaro

Competitions

Serie A

League table

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[lower-alpha 1]
2 Internazionale[lower-alpha 2] 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).

Matches

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

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

First round

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

Second round

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

Third round

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

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

Quarterfinals

18 June 1964 Bologna 1-0 Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaOFK Belgrado Bologna
Pantani 69' Stadium: Comunale
Referee: AustriaWlachojanis
20 June 1964 Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaOFK Belgrado 2-2 Bologna Belgrado
Milosev 52'
Cebinac 78'
61' Vinicio
84' Corradi
Stadium: Omladinski Stadium
Referee: HungaryFehervari

Semifinals

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

Statistics

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 A5417133133101797121834221025418+36
Spareggio------110020110020+2
Coppa Italia110042320144430186+2
Mitropa Cup211032201125412157−2
Totals2015414014231283291743271246931+38

Players statistics

[8]

Appearances

Goalscorers

References

  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.
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