Michael Bradley becomes the next American to try to make a career for himself in Italy's Serie A after finding success in Holland and Germany. Chievo is hardly a household name among the Italian clubs, so here's what you need to know about Bradley's new home.
Why Are We Here?
After going on loan to Aston Villa for the second0half of the 2010-11 season, Bradley was unable to make the move permanent. Borussia Moenchengladbach had moved on in his absence, building a midfield with the idea that Bradley would be leaving before the start of the season. When that didn't happen, Bradley was left with little choice but to find a new club. From the Bundesliga to Serie A, a league that has been tough to crack for US National Team players.
And Where Are We?
Verona, in northern Italy. It's a metropolitan area of just over 700,000 with the club located in the near suburb of Chievo. The city of Verona is a World Heritage Site, with the kind of architecture that makes Americans wax poetic. We're talking about a place that was already populated 2600 years ago, has a Roman Arena that's still in use, and several major buildings still standing that were constructed in the Middle Ages. Then there's the story of some guy named Romeo and his girl Juliet. With that in mind, it shouldn't be surprising that lots of people visit Verona.
And The Club?
Chievo isn't the big club in Verona, but they're the only one that happens to be playing in Serie A. Hellas Verona were relegated, giving Chievo the bigger stage. Tim Park's A Season With Verona describes what it was like following Hellas in the early 2000's when they were still in Serie A. The quick takeaway is that Chievo has a decidedly smaller fan base in the area. They won promotion to Serie A for the first time following the 2000-1 season. They lasted through the 2006-07 season when they were relegated. They returned to Serie A following the 2007-08 season. They're known for obvious reasons as The Flying Donkeys. Ok, you've got us on why they're called Mussi volanti.
How Tough Is Serie A?
As Clemente Lisi explained in detail, it's incredibly tough for Americans playing in Italy's topflight. UEFA ranks Serie A fourth in their coefficient that determines European places. The league is dominated by the names you likely know. Juventus and the two Milan clubs have the bulk of the titles. Juve have won the scudetto awarded to the Italian champions 27 times, with AC and Inter at 18 each. The big clubs buy some of the best players in the World, and loyalty isn't just defined by city or even regional boundaries. Juventus is popular all over the country, making it even more difficult for a newer Serie A club like Chievo to build a larger fan base. It's not just the local rivalry with Hellas, it's also the rest of Serie A.
The Stadium?
Chievo might be Verona's Serie A team, but they're considered the secondary tenant at Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi to Hellas. Averaging around 12,000 last season, Chievo was outdrawn by Hellas in Serie B who drew over 14,000 a game. That's life as the underdog club, regardless of league status. The stadium itself holds 39,211, built in 1963 and renovated for the 1990 World Cup. It was used for Group E games and the Spain - Yugoslavia game in the Round of 16. Like several Italian stadiums, the playing field is surrounded by a running track.
