Palermo F.C.

Early history (1898–1947)

The history of the arrival of football in Palermo city is linked to the solid relationships that the high local bourgeoisie entertained with the British people. There is some debate and uncertainty about the exact date the club was founded. Some authorities believe that it may have been founded as early as 1898 due to the existence of papers addressed to Joseph Whitaker, English ornithologist in Palermo and originally believed to be first club president, about a Palermo football team founded in the month of April of that year. Conversely, another source cites that in April 1897, the future founders of Palermo Calcio founded the Sport Club. Joseph Whitaker have had an important role in the first years of the club: in 1902 he would then have been appointed honorary president, as evidenced by a letter dated March 14 of that year. The most common and officially stated foundation date is 1 November 1900, as the Anglo-Palermitan Athletic and Foot-Ball Club. The club is thought to have been founded by Ignazio Majo Pagano, a young Palermitan colleague of Whitaker who had discovered football while at college in London in the UK, where the modern game of association football originated. The initial staff comprised three Englishmen and nine natives of Palermo, with Whitaker as honorary chairman, Edward De Garston as inaugural president and with red and blue as the original team colours. The first recorded football match, played by the team on 30…

Over the years Palermo has had various owners and chairmen; here is a chronological list of the known chairmen:

Serie B Champions (5): 1931–32, 1947–48, 1967–68, 2003–04, 2013–14 Serie C1 Champions (4): 1941–42, 1945–46, 1992–93, 2000–01 Serie C2 Champions (1): 1987–88 Serie D Champions (1): 2019–20 Prima Divisione Champions (1): 1929–30 Coppa Italia Serie C Winners (1): 1992–93

Other Titles

Coppa Federale Siciliana Winners (1): 1920 Whitaker Challenge Cup Winners (1): 1908 Lipton Challenge Cup Winners (5): 1910, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915 Torneo di Tunisi Winners (1): 1923 Campionato Primavera: Winners (1): 2008–09 Campionato Nazionale Dante Berretti: Winners (1): 2000–01 Coppa Allievi Professionisti: Winners (1): 1997–98 Campionato Giovanissimi Regionali: Winners (2): 2011–12, 2012–13