Who are Dublin-bound Serie A outfit Sampdoria?
Credit: Albert Thompson (ETPhotos)
With English giants Manchester United coming to Dublin to play Serie A outfit Sampdoria on Wednesday night in the Aviva Stadium, in their last pre-season friendly before the start of the Premier League season, we ask…
Who are Sampdoria?
Sampdoria was founded in the year 1946. The club are based in the northern Italian city of Genoa, with the majority of their success coming in the mid to late 1980s and early '90s.
The club was formed by the merging of two existing sports clubs in the city of Genoa, Sampierdarnese and Andrea Doria. They formerly wore white, red and black before switching to their current blue and white colours a few years later.
The Genoa-based clubs' main successes have come in the Copa Italia, which they've won four times between 1985 and 1994. They also have one Scudetto, which they won in 1990-91 after pipping AC Milan by just five points.7
Republic of Ireland great Liam Brady spent two seasons with Sampdoria between 1982 and 1984.
European Pedigree
The Blucerchiati were always a constant appearance maker during their peak of the powers in the 80s and early 90s. They reached the old Cup Winners' Cup final twice in 1988-89 and 1989-90, losing to Barcelona and beating Anderlecht respectively.
They also made a European Cup Final (Now Champions League) in 1991-92, losing to Barcelona was again at Wembley.
European Appearances for the Genoa based club has been mainly in the Europa League with their latest appearances in the 2015-16 seeing them lose out in the third qualifying round to Serbian side Vojvodina.
2016-17 Domestic Campaign
The Blucerchiati finished in a solid tenth place in the Seria A under Marco Giampaolo. They also made the last 16 of the Coppa Italia losing to Roma.
Notable Players
There are possibly two or three players who may be widely knowm out of Sampdoria’s current squad. Emiliano Viviano and Fabio Quagliarella playing their trade at The Blucerchiati and are known for their times at Arsenal and Juventus respectively. Argentine Ricky Alvarez who had a spell at Premier League Sunderland in 2015.
