The enduring appeal of AC Fiorentina
Purple charms, dark clouds and silver linings
May 1990. UEFA Cup Final. Fiorentina faced Juventus in an all-Italian affair. While Juventus won the final, off the field, Fiorentina would grab the more memorable headlines.
For the first Italian team to reach the European Cup Final (in 1957), the UEFA Cup (1990) remains Fiorentina’s last outing in a European final to date. Their legacy though is more complex, more multi-dimensional and filled with eclectic highlights which endears them to fans and neutrals.
The Seven Sisters
Dark clouds and silver linings
The context for the UEFA Cup Final stretched back to the Serie A race of 1982. Entering the final day level on points, Fiorentina were beaten to the title by Juventus, against the backdrop of some controversial refereeing calls in their respective final day games; flaring an irreversible point in their broad, acrimonious rift with the Bianconeri.
Eight years on from ‘that’ scudetto race, the 1990 UEFA Cup Final was (again) headed for a controversial climax against a familiar nemesis. Juventus won the first leg 3–1 at home, their last ever at the Stadio Communale. Due to crowd trouble at Fiorentina’s temporary ‘home’ stadium (in Perugia) during the semi-final, the return-leg though was (controversially) played in Avellino — a city of Juventus fans. It finished 0–0, handing Juventus the UEFA Cup on aggregate. Almost immediately after the loss to their bitter rivals, salt was sprayed on Viola fans’ wounds. Just two days later, the sale of their star and talisman, Roberto Baggio, was announced — to Juventus.
This was the final straw. Viola fans were distraught.
Outraged, they rioted in Florence.
Faced with debts and the anger of rioting fans, the (owner) Pontello sold the club to Mario Cecchi Gori. The entry of a filmmaker owner was perhaps fitting given the extraordinary reel that Fiorentina would soon provide to viewers.
Fiorentina finished 12th in the summer of 1990 and repeated that finish for the next two seasons. In the 92/93 season, powered by the trio of Gabriel Batistuta, Brian Laudrup and Stefan Effenberg, the Viola were sitting in second place after 13 games. The silver lining of this rebuild, however, would give way to a very dark cloud.
Cecchi Gori died in 1993 leaving his son Vittorio in charge. The coach was changed mid-season and Fiorentina’s league form dipped after that. They finished 16th, on 30 points, level with Brescia. A worse head-to-head record v Brescia meant that Fiorentina were relegated, despite having a better goal difference! Three years after the UEFA Cup Final, and after 54 years in the Serie A, the summer of 1993 would see Fiorentina drop to Serie B.
Like before, this dark cloud would soon have a silver lining.
Claudio Ranieri would join as a manager for the 93/94 season, leading the Viola to promotion. Now back in the Serie A, Fiorentina signed the talented Rui Costa in 1994 who would become the perfect foil for Batistuta, the top scorer that season in the Serie A.
Fiorentina would finish in 10th place that season, not bad for a promoted club in the hypercompetitive Serie A of that time. All the key actors, however, were in place for the next (1995/96) season when Fiorentina would finish in a credible 4th place and most importantly, see its first silverware in 21 years in the form of the Coppa Italia. Later they would beat the mighty Milan, becoming the first non-champions to claim the Italian Super Cup.
Powered by the dynamic duo of Costa-Batistuta whose telepathic partnership would terrorize Serie A’s catenaccio-bolted defences, Fiorentina would record two Top 5 finishes by the end of the decade. The highlight would be a3rd place finish in 1998–99, their best since — 1982.
Although I have never won a major trophy, I consider myself a winner because I helped Fiorentina to compete with the big boys — Batistuta
Crest and troughs…
The disappointment and controversy of the UEFA Cup final at the start of the decade now seemed to be in the past. The shock departure of Baggio was to a large extent filled by Batistuta and Rui Costa, who would later earn the adulating monikers: King of Florence and Prince of Florence respectively. Fiorentina’s decade had started battling relegation. By the end, they had the honour of being counted in the Seven Sisters of Serie A. When playing in the greatest league in the world at that time (and indeed of all time), that accolade was itself arguably “worth” as much as a continental trophy.
By the turn of the millennium, Batistuta had swapped purple for the gold-maroon of AS Roma, in the hope of winning at least one title for all his exploits. Despite losing their record goalscorer, Fiorentina recorded an upper half finish and also won the Coppa Italia.
However, another twist was just around the corner, and one that would mean curtains for both the club and their film-making owners.
Financial mismanagement at the club, and the owner Vittorio Gori being wanted in connection to various (other) financial and drugs offences, resulted in Fiorentina being placed in administration, and dissolved, at the end of the 2001/02 season. In August 2002, it was liquidated and reborn as Florentia Viola in Serie C2. In 2003, the new owner (Diego Della Valle) would purchase image and design rights and re-establish the club as the ACF Fiorentina, that we know today. In 2005, Fiorentina would return to the Serie A. In 2019, Italian-American billionaire Commisso would purchase Fiorentina with a publicly stated desire for the club to be the Princess of the “Seven Sisters”.
Enduring appeal
Except for the mid-late 50s, Fiorentina’s form has generally fluctuated — often wildly. In the top flight, its all-time average finishing position is 7th. Having said that, they’ve won every domestic competition at least once and are among a handful of clubs who’ve reached the final of all continental competitions — European Cup, UEFA Cup, and the Cup Winners Cup (won in 1961). As noted earlier, Fiorentina are never short of talking points. There’s always a quirky fact that stands out despite the sea of mediocrity.
Eye-catching
In terms of standing out, nothing beats Fiorentina’s distinctive purple jersey. Their original jersey was red and white, inspired by the crest of the city of Florence: a stylized red lily on a white background (fleur-de-lis). The purple kit was adopted in 1928, apparently after washing their red and white jerseys in a river turned them purple.
Fiorentina’s purple kit and the fleur-de-lis crest is an innate part of their appeal. Their shirt sponsors have been equally iconic and on par with what elite European clubs attract. The 00s saw the Toyota logo emblazoned on their jerseys. In the roaring 90s, when Serie A was the best league in the world, brands with youth appeal, like 7UP and Nintendo, made the perfect association with the fresh, talented Florentine side. Batistuta’s flair and iconic celebrations added the perfect embodiment.
Fiorentina of the 90s had an irresistible aesthetic appeal which stole neutrals’ hearts and locked them up forever. These aesthetics were not without substance. Some all-time greats have graced the purple jersey. The elegance of Baggio, power of Batistuta and the wizardry of Rui Costa come to mind readily. The purple ranks have also featured World Cup winner Giancarlo Antognoni, the appearance record holder for Fiorentina and one of best Italian midfielders of all-time. Argentine World Cup-winning captain, Daniel Passarella also stood out for I Viola. The iconic Socrates also played for Fiorentina, the only non-Brazilian club of his career.
Heartwarming
Kit, players and trophies. These are core elements of a club’s heritage. But one other thing that sets Fiorentina apart — loyalty. Three popular anecdotes, relating to its greatest players, bear testimony.
Baggio’s bitter transfer to Juventus for a world-record fee was a financially motivated transaction to raise funds for clearing Fiorentina’s debts. As Baggio admitted, he was compelled to accept the transfer and famously remarked: “Deep in my heart, I’m always purple”. In his first return to Florence, the (now) Juventus star, won a penalty but refused to take it. When substituted later, as he was passing the Viola fans section, a Fiorentina scarf was thrown on the sidelines. Baggio picked the scarf to acknowledge his special relationship with the club, much to the consternation of Juventus faithful.
In search of the scudetto that eluded him in Florence, Batistuta transferred to AS Roma in 2000. When Batigol, a Roma player now, played Fiorentina in Rome he walked over to (visiting) Fiorentina fans and saluted them, earning their respect. Despite scoring, he refused to celebrate his goal: lost in his world, as his Roma teammates hugged him.
In 2001, Fiorentina sold Rui Costa to AC Milan, to balance their books. The club-record signing for AC Milan, on his first return to Fiorentina, enjoyed a tearful reception with Fiorentina fans, prompting AC Milan fans to display a banner asking him to lay off the “violet tears”.
The Serie A in the 90s was home to many one-club legends. This sense of loyalty to a club, and from players for whom Fiorentina was never the first or final club, or one they won most titles with, is extraordinary, and beautiful.
I’ve always considered Florence as my girlfriend. I don’t have to explain my love for this city — Batistuta
ACF Fiorentina has a unique quality: it invokes the heart. The measure of Fiorentina transcends quantitative achievements and flows seamlessly into innate intangible qualities.
Maybe it’s the reflected glory of the great city of Florence, the memories of great players who wore their iconic purple kit, maybe their great brand, or maybe the fleur-de-lis acting as a portal to the glorious Renaissance era.
Football, history, kit, colour, players, dark clouds and silver linings — the Viola storybook is eclectic and interesting. While their on-field performances may wax and wane, one thing is certain: ACF Fiorentina will always have many talking points up their sleeve for their charm to endure across time. 💜
Nota Bene: Fiorentina is my joint-favourite Serie A team along with AC Milan.
