Parma Calcio has a rich history dating back to its inception in 1913 as Verdi Football Club, in tribute to the esteemed Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. In 1991, the club secured promotion to Serie A, the top tier of Italian soccer, propelling itself into the national soccer scene. Under the guidance of renowned managers like Nevio Scala and Carlo Ancelotti, Parma clinched its inaugural major trophy, the Coppa Italia, in 1992. The club then won three UEFA Cup titles in 1995, 1999, and 2002, solidifying its status as a dominant force in European soccer. Since its inception in 2022, the Parma Calcio Women’s First team has received substantial support from various sponsors and the local community. This support has been crucial in enhancing the facilities and overall support for women’s football, fostering a sense of belonging and pride among players and fans alike.

“I am proud to coach one of the best clubs around. It is the result of a relationship built on mutual trust and shared goals.” 

— Women’s First coach Salvatore Colantuono

Despite various challenges over the years, Parma Calcio has remained resilient, striving to reclaim its standing as a formidable competitor. Today, the club continues to compete in Italian soccer, revered by fans for its illustrious history and enduring legacy. Acquired by the Krause Group in 2020, both the Men’s and Women’s First teams competed in Serie B in 2023. Based in Parma, Emilia-Romagna, the club hosts its home matches at the Ennio Tardini Stadium, which boasts a seating capacity of 23,450 spectators.

Parma Calcio’s strong bond with its territory drives the team’s social responsibility initiatives, particularly under the Krause Group’s new ownership. These initiatives involve active participation from all facets of the club, including men’s, women’s, and youth teams, Paralympic athletes, city officials, fans, and club personnel. Key figures such as the soccer social responsibility officer, disability access officer, and supporter liaison officer work together to create a common spirit of co-responsibility. The Krause Group’s passion for service empowers Parma Calcio to go beyond mere financial investment, with each member of the team volunteering with organizations meaningful to them.

Mutti Training Center

Located in Collecchio, just fifteen kilometers southwest of Parma, the Mutti Training Center stands as a premier sports facility, designed to accommodate both the Men’s First team and youth sector. Initially constructed in 1996, it was inaugurated in the summer of 1998 and upgraded in 2013. Parma Calcio is recognized for its pivotal role in developing technical and human resources; for example, unifying our youth teams, starting with Pulcini, to train alongside the main team, earning the center’s label “emblematic of the club’s unity.”

Women’s Sports Center Hub in Nocento

In 2023, we inaugurated a new sports center hub tailored for our Parma Calcio Women’s First team. The Noceto training facility, affectionately named “Il Noce,” marks a substantial progression by offering a dedicated space to nurture and support our women’s team. Beginning in late June, the project involved comprehensive upgrades, including pitch resurfacing, improved changing rooms, and the addition of essential facilities such as a gym, medical room, press room, and offices for Women’s First team managers and staff.

Promoting women in soccer is crucial for gender equality, empowerment, health, economic growth, and a more inclusive society, benefiting individuals and the broader community for future generations. It drives gender equality by challenging stereotypes and breaking barriers, allowing women to excel equally with men. Female athletes inspire the next generation, showing that success is achievable in soccer and beyond.

Parma Calcio recognizes the importance of investing in women’s soccer training facilities to foster talent, enhance performance, and drive the sport’s growth. Our Noceto facility develops female players and nurtures inclusivity and competitiveness in Italy’s soccer culture. This significant investment benefits all our teams, from the First Team to the Youth Sector, providing them with a unique center to train and play in modern facilities.

In 2023, Parma Calcio participated in several impactful programs. We joined the We Are Team-Anolino Solidarity initiative, where club managers, associates, and supporters volunteered together. Additionally, we organized the Tardini for Special tournament and welcomed La Paz Anti Racist Football Club, emphasizing inclusivity for Paralympic, LGBTQ+, and diverse athletes.

We fostered unity and philanthropy through community events like Parma Lands and Shape Your Passion jersey distributions. Our flagship event, Andiamo Al Parma, celebrated its opening day at the Ennio Tardini stadium. We made significant progress in environmental sustainability efforts, including transitioning to the macrotherma grass variety on all playing fields, resulting in a 30% reduction in water consumption. Implementation of an irrigation automation system further optimized water usage, while initiatives like the Bottle-Free Zone led to a 25% decrease in overall waste production, eliminating over 70,000 water bottles.

In October 2023, Parma Calcio joined the new executive European Club Association (ECA) Academy Management Program alongside representatives from 22 other countries. This program convenes over 50 ECA member clubs at the FIGC federal center in Coverciano, Florence, to create a forum for knowledge exchange, idea development, and skill enhancement. These gatherings help refine ECA’s strategies on performance and health, supporting the advancement of European club soccer in areas such as competition formats, financial regulations, and club development.

Through energy-efficient kitchen practices and sourcing local and organic foods, the Mutti Training Center achieved a 20% reduction in electricity consumption and a 10% decrease in food waste, reducing food waste levels to nearly zero. Our receipt of Green Certificates from the Gestore de Servizi Energetici SpA marked another step toward achieving our sustainability goals.