Italian Football League
ClassificationTop level league
SportAmerican football
Founded1980 (1980)
Inaugural season1980
CEOEnrico Mambelli[1][2]
No. of teamsMax 12
Country Italy
Most recent
champion(s)
Parma Panthers
(6th title) (2023)
Most titlesBergamo Lions
(12 titles)
Level on pyramidLevel 1
Official websitewww.fidaf.com

Italian Football League (IFL) is the top level American football league in Italy established in 1980.

The annual final play-off game to determine the league champion is called the Italian Bowl, that awards, for American football, the title of "champion of Italy" and the scudetto.[3]

Background

Spaghetti Bowl, American football bowl game played in Florence, Italy, on 1 January 1945

In Italy, the first American football game took place in Genoa on 27 November 1913 when the teams of the USS Connecticut and USS Kansas faced each other, two of the 14 ships of the American Great White Fleet temporarily docked in the Ligurian port during an exercise cruise in the Mediterranean Sea. USS Connecticut won 17–6.[4]

After this sporadic appearance, American football returned to Italy with the Allied troops during World War II. American football followed the advance of the US units from the south to the north of the Italian peninsula. On 23 November 1944, a touch football match was played at the Stadio della Vittoria in Bari, between the Playboys and the Technical School.[5] The trophy, called the "Bambino Bowl", was won by the Technical School 13–0 in front of an audience of 5,000.[6]

A little over a month later, the Spaghetti Bowl[7] was held in Florence in front of 25,000 people on New Year's Day 1945 between the Bridgebusters (representatives of the Twelfth Air Force) and the Mudders (United States Army North), who they won 20–0.[8] Although probably other matches were played in those years of which no documentation remains, the first in peacetime, took place in Trieste, the last territory liberated from the Nazi-Fascists, in January 1948. The match was organized by the Trieste United States Troops and saw the SP'S prevail over D Company by "three touchdowns" (then 21–0).[9]

History

Legnano Frogs celebrate victory after winning the XV Italian Bowl in 1995

In the 1970s teams formed and played in Italy. The first American football championship organized in Italy, which was never recognized by the federation, took place in 1977 and was won by the Tori Torino.

Among the games played in the 1970s there was the first official match played between Italian American football teams in preparation for the first championship officially recognized by the federation; played on 24 June 1978 at the Stadio Carlo Speroni in Busto Arsizio, it was won 36–0 by the Rhinos Milano over the Gallarate Frogs.[10]

In 1980 the first official American football league in Italy was established and crowned a champion.[11] This championship did not include a final and was won by Lupi Roma. However, the title of first champions of Italy was recognized to the Lupi only in 2016.[12]

Palermo Sharks in 2008

The Italian league (Series A) in the late 1970s and early 1980s, was one of the first leagues in Europe to sign professional import players and coaches from the US. The league had good popularity in the early years especially the late 1980s and early 1990s with reported attendance of nearly 20,000 fans for a Series A league final championship game in that time period.[13] American Football in Italy has had ups and downs since that time but has always had a competitive league with different lower levels playing below the Italian Football League (IFL).

XXXIV Italian Bowl, won by Milano Seamen vs. Parma Panthers in 2014.

The new IFL was founded in 2007, taking over previous league's significance called (National Football League Italy).[14] The league was born as a result of the escape of several of the best clubs of the old championship organized by the Italian federation, such as Milano Rhinos, Parma Panthers, Bologna Doves and Bolzano Giants. However some of the historic Italian clubs have not joined the new league and continue to participate in different tournaments organized by other federations.

In the following years a lot of teams moved to the Federazione Italiana di American Football (the federation the IFL belongs to)[15] and most of the biggest teams are now again part of the IFL that is the First Division or in the other two divisions.

The Bergamo Lions have won the most Italian Bowl league championships winning 12 finals.

On Saturday, July 1, 2023, Italian Bowl XLII will be played at the Glass Bowl Stadium on the campus of The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA. This will mark the first Italian Football League Championship held outside of Europe. The Parma Panthers won the game played in front of nearly 10,000 fans and televised in the USA.

IFL teams

  • Ancona Dolphins (2008–present)
  • Bergamo Lions (2008–10, 2012, 2014–2019) (2023-present)
  • Bologna Doves (2008–09, 2011–12) (now in III Division)
  • Bologna Warriors (2009–present)
  • Bolzano Giants (2008–2020)
  • Catania Elephants (2008–12) (now in II Division)
  • Deamons Cernusco (2012)
  • Ferrara Aquile (2014-2017) (now in II Division)
  • Firenze Guelfi (2016–present)
  • Lazio Marines (2018–present)
  • Legnano Frogs (2023–present)
  • Martesana Daemons (2012) (now in II Division)
  • Mastini Verona (2022-2023)
  • Milano Rhinos (2008–2018, 2020–present)
  • Milano Seamen (2011–2022) (now in European League of Football)
  • Napoli Briganti (2014–?) (now in III Division)
  • Palermo Corsari (2008 †)
  • Palermo Sharks (2008) (now in II Division)
  • Parma Panthers (2008–present)
  • Reggio Emilia Hogs (2009–13) (now in II Division)
  • Roma Grizzlies (2015–2018)
  • Torino Giaguari (2014–202, 2023-present)
  • UTA Pesaro (2018)

† defunct
♦ due to league expansion the Napoli team can play the 2015 IFL season and is not relegated to the second division
‡ Roma Grizzlies won the second division championship and earned the right to play the 2015 IFL season[16]

Italian Bowl

Italian Bowl is the annual final play-off game of the Italian Football League (IFL) to determine the league champion. It is the game that awards, for American football, the title of "champion of Italy" and the scudetto.[3] Until 2014 the championship game was called Italian Super Bowl

The scudetto, a decoration having the colors of the flag of Italy which is sewn onto the jersey of the Italian sports clubs that won the highest level championship of their respective sport in the previous season.
GameYearWinnerOpponentResultLocation
- 1980 Lupi Roma-Group winners -
I 1981 Rhinos MilanoFrogs Gallarate24–8 Stadio Eugenio Broccardi, Santa Margherita Ligure
II 1982 Rhinos MilanoFrogs Gallarate11–0 Stadio Tonino Benelli, Pesaro
III 1983 Rhinos MilanoWarriors Bologna20–14 Palasport di Genova, Genoa
IV 1984 Frogs Busto ArsizioWarriors Bologna16–6 Stadio Romeo Neri, Rimini
V 1985 Doves BolognaAngels Pesaro27–11 Stadio Silvio Appiani, Padova
VI 1986 Warriors BolognaAngels Pesaro18–8 Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, Bologna
VII 1987 Frogs LegnanoMilano Seamen27–24 Stadio Romeo Neri, Rimini
VIII 1988 Frogs LegnanoWarriors Bologna17–0 Stadio Dorico, Ancona
IX 1989 Frogs LegnanoMilano Seamen39–33 Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma
X 1990 Rhinos MilanoFrogs Legnano33–6 Stadio Romeo Neri, Rimini
XI 1991 Giaguari TorinoPhoenix San Lazzaro38–16 Stadio Brianteo, Monza
XII 1992 Pharaones MilanoLions Bergamo35–25 Stadio Druso, Bolzano
XIII 1993 Lions BergamoGladiatori Roma48–39 Stadio Comunale, Telgate
XIV 1994 Frogs LegnanoRhinos Milano37–27 Stadio Giovanni Mari, Legnano
XV 1995 Frogs LegnanoGladiatori Roma32–26 Stadio Alfiero Moretti, Cesenatico
XVI 1996 Phoenix BolognaGladiatori Roma25–20 Stadio Dorico, Ancona
XVII 1997 Phoenix BolognaFrogs Legnano42–35 Stadio Brianteo, Monza
XVIII 1998 Lions BergamoFrogs Legnano29–28 Stadio Santa Maria Goretti, Catania
XIX 1999 Lions BergamoGiants Bolzano49–14 Stadio Europa, Bolzano
XX 2000 Lions BergamoGiants Bolzano49–27 Velodromo Vigorelli, Milan
XXI 2001 Lions BergamoDolphins Ancona30–24 Stadio Europa, Bolzano
XXII 2002 Lions BergamoDolphins Ancona21–14 Stadio Europa, Bolzano
XXIII 2003 Lions BergamoDolphins Ancona45–0 Polisportivo Comunale, Civitanova Marche
XXIV 2004 Lions BergamoDolphins Ancona14–13 Stadio Andrea Torelli, Scandiano
XXV 2005 Lions BergamoWarriors Bologna42–14 Stadio Andrea Torelli, Scandiano
XXVI 2006 Lions BergamoPanthers Parma24–12 Stadio Andrea Torelli, Scandiano
XXVII 2007 Lions BergamoPanthers Parma55–49 (2 OT) Stadio Andrea Torelli, Scandiano
XXVIII 2008 Lions BergamoGiants Bolzano56–54 Stadio Comunale, San Giovanni in Marignano
XXIX 2009 Giants BolzanoMarines Lazio35–21 Stadio Dei Pini, Milano Marittima
XXX 2010 Panthers ParmaElephants Catania56–26 Stadio Breda, Sesto San Giovanni
XXXI 2011 Panthers ParmaWarriors Bologna76–62 Stadio XXV Aprile, Parma
XXXII 2012 Panthers ParmaElephants Catania61–43 Stadio Franco Ossola, Varese
XXXIII 2013 Panthers ParmaMilano Seamen51–28 Stadio Paolo Mazza, Ferrara
XXXIV 2014 Milano SeamenPanthers Parma33–3 Stadio Paolo Mazza, Ferrara
XXXV 2015 Milano SeamenPanthers Parma24–14 Velodromo Vigorelli, Milan
XXXVI 2016 Rhinos MilanoGiants Bolzano44–18 Stadio Dino Manuzzi, Cesena
XXXVII 2017 Milano SeamenRhinos Milano37–29 Stadio Romeo Menti, Vicenza
XXXVIII 2018 Milano SeamenGiants Bolzano28–14 Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
XXXIX 2019 Milano SeamenFirenze Guelfi62–28 Stadio Breda, Sesto San Giovanni
- 2020 No season played because of the COVID-19 pandemic
XL 2021 Panthers ParmaMilano Seamen40–34 (OT) Stadio Leonardo Garilli, Piacenza
XLI 2022 Firenze GuelfiMilano Seamen21–17 Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, Bologna
XLII 2023 Panthers ParmaFirenze Guelfi2913 Glass Bowl, Toledo, OH

Number of Italian Bowl victories

VIII Eurobowl in 1994, Lions Bergamo vs. London Olympians. Italian teams that have won the Eurobowl have been Frogs Legnano (1989) and Lions Bergamo (2000, 2001 and 2002)
VictoriesTeamSeasons
12 Lions Bergamo 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
6 Frogs Legnano 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995
6 Panthers Parma 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2021, 2023
5 Milano Seamen 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
5 Rhinos Milano 1981, 1982, 1983, 1990, 2016
1 Firenze Guelfi 2022
1 Giants Bolzano 2009
1 Pharaones Milano 1992
1 Giaguari Torino 1991
1 Warriors Bologna 1986
1 Doves Bologna 1985
1 Lupi Roma 1980

Geographical distribution of Italian Bowl winners

See also

References

  1. Enrico Mambelli è il nuovo Presidente della Italian Football League Archived 2015-02-12 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Enrico Mambelli Presidente". Archived from the original on February 12, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Francesco Pastorelli (PD): "I Guelfi Firenze campioni d'Italia di football americano"" (in Italian). Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  4. Massimo Foglio, L'Europa lunga un piede, p. 14 - ISBN 1-4810-2028-5
  5. Massimo Foglio, L'Europa lunga un piede, p. 67 - ISBN 1-4810-2028-5
  6. Bambino Bowl Archived 22 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Massimo Foglio, L'Europa lunga un piede, p. 69 - ISBN 1-4810-2028-5
  8. Spaghetti Bowl
  9. TRUST Football
  10. "La storia" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  11. "Football Americano. La squadra del primo Scudetto in Italia torna a vivere" (in Italian). Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  12. "Roma campione del football 36 anni dopo. L'emozione del qb Volterra: "Noi, i pionieri dei touchdown italiani"" (in Italian). Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  13. "Football Americano" (in Italian). Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  14. "New Era annuncia la partnership con la Italian Football League" (in Italian). Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  15. "Football americano" (in Italian). Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  16. "I Grizzlies sbranano gli Elephants - Sport Locale - iltempo". Archived from the original on 2014-10-28. Retrieved 2014-10-28.
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