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LUCCHESE120 | 1991-2000 THE LOST SERIE A, THE FOUND SERIE C

 

Serie B electrifies everyone: spectators and enthusiasm grow, the stadium is enlarged in the guest sector to accommodate fans of many emblazoned teams.

The fable of the Lucchese team that plays, entertains and wins conquers all far beyond the borders of the city.

 

Lucchese120 - lavori alla curva est dello stadio Porta Elisa di Lucca

 

Paci's goals, Rastelli's plays, Monaco's geometries, Montanari's defensive interventions, and Donatelli's flair exalt football lovers: Orrico and his boys are also protagonists in the first Serie B championship where they come close, with many regrets, to jump into the top division. 

Before the season is even over, the coach decides to accept Inter's offer: the backlash is visible and the team, due to numerous injuries, slows down.
The dream fades.
In the following season, another coach arrives at his place, and he will become known all over the world: Marcello Lippi, former “RossoNeri” captain. 

 

   Lucchese120 - the jerseys of Lucchese players Rastelli and Paci

Lucchese120 - Vialli in a friendly match against Lucchese

 


Lucchese was firmly in Serie B, from here many players and coaches pass on to higher categories, risking the relegation only once.
In the 1995-96 season, however, they come close to Serie A again with Bolchi on the bench, but even this time their hopes are extinguished in the final rounds of the championship.
Maestrelli and Grassi's ownership, strarts with a policy of cost-cutting (television revenues still not exist) and the team, revolutionised every season, found some difficulties on the football field, managing to save itself, however. 

 

Lucchese120 - Lucchese footballer Roberto Paci, nicknamed  Il bomber (The Bomber)   Lucchese120 - a statue dedicated to footballer Corrado Paci, at the Porta Elisa stadium in Lucca

 

The fans begin to clamour, Maestrelli declares himself willing to step aside.
The point of no return is the 1998-99 season.
Repeated changes of coach, a team not up to scratch and the resignation of the president causes relegation: after almost ten years it is Serie C1 again. Grassi remaines at the head of the club, but all is to be rebuilt: the amulet Orrico is recalled, after Discepoli's exoneration, but Lucchese loose at a distance and does not even make the playoffs

 

Luchese120 - Corrado Orrico   Lucchese120 - Bruno Bolchi, coach of Lucchese