U.C. Sampdoria

Unione Calcio Sampdoria, commonly known as Sampdoria, is an Italian professional football club based in Genoa, Liguria. Founded on 12 August 1946, the club emerged from a merger between Sampierdarenese and Andrea Doria, two older societies whose roots reach back to the late 19th century. That union is baked into everything: the name splices Sampierdarenese and Doria, and the famous blue jersey with white, red, and black vertical bands mixes the colors of both founding clubs. Supporters call the team blucerchiati, or blue-circled, a nod to that distinctive crest.

Sampdoria calls the Stadio Luigi Ferraris home, a 33,205-seat ground in the Marassi district that they share with city rivals Genoa CFC. The Derby della Lanterna, named for Genoa's lighthouse, is one of Italy's most intense fixtures, and the two clubs have traded blows in Serie A for decades. The club's golden era came in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when they won the Coppa Italia four times, lifted the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1990, and claimed their only Scudetto in 1991. That same squad reached the 1992 European Cup final, losing 1-0 to Barcelona after extra time.

As of the 2025-26 season, Sampdoria competes in Serie B, Italy's second division, after relegation from the top flight in 2023. The current squad shows a mix of experienced heads and emerging talent, with players like forward Gennaro Tutino and midfielder Pajtim Kasami making their mark in recent matches. The club is also celebrating its 80th anniversary with special commemorative kits from Macron, honoring the 1946 founding and the two clubs that came together to create Sampdoria. [edit]

Sampdoria's origins trace to the merger of Sampierdarenese and Andrea Doria in 1946, but both clubs had deep roots. Sampierdarenese, founded in 1899, was one of the earliest Italian football clubs, while Andrea Doria, established in 1895, was a multi-sport society. The merger was driven by a desire to create a stronger force in Genoese football, and the new club quickly made its mark in the Italian league system.

The 1980s and early 1990s were the club's golden age. Under coach Vujadin Boškov, Sampdoria won the Coppa Italia in 1985, 1988, and 1989, and then captured the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1990, beating Anderlecht 2-0 in the final. The following season, the team, led by the strike partnership of Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Mancini, won the Serie A title in 1991, finishing ahead of Inter Milan and AC Milan. That squad, which also included goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca and defender Pietro Vierchowod, is still revered by fans.

The club reached the 1992 European Cup final in Rotterdam, where they faced Barcelona. After a goalless 90 minutes, Ronald Koeman scored a free kick in extra time to give the Spanish side a 1-0 win. Sampdoria remained competitive through the 1990s, winning another Coppa Italia in 1994, but financial troubles and relegation struggles followed in the 2000s. They returned to Serie A in 2003 and stayed there for nearly two decades, but a second relegation came in 2023. The club has since been rebuilding in Serie B, with a focus on developing young players and restoring its identity. [edit]