Como ended a 21-year hiatus from Serie A with a 1-1 draw against Cosenza on the final day of the 2023-24 season.
Gennaro Tutino opened the scoring for the visitors with his 20th league goal of the campaign in the 30th minute at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.
However, Simone Verdi leveled the score from the penalty spot in the 75th minute after Andrea Meroni fouled Patrick Cutrone, securing a crucial point for the hosts.
Venezia’s 2-1 defeat to relegation-threatened Spezia ensured that Como, backed by Cesc Fabregas and Thierry Henry, clinched the second and final automatic promotion spot in Serie B.
Osian Roberts, the club’s caretaker manager, made history as the first Welshman to secure promotion to the Italian top-flight.
This achievement marks a significant milestone for the Lombardy-based club, which has faced financial challenges, including two bankruptcies in the last two decades. They will compete in the Serie A for the first time since 2003, earning their third promotion in six seasons alongside champions Parma.
Bankruptcies, rises and yet more falls
Promotion marks the culmination of a remarkable journey for the Italian club, which was competing in the non-professional fourth tier as recently as the 2018-19 season.
Following relegation from Serie A in 2003, Como experienced a downward spiral, dropping to the fourth tier, Serie D, after another relegation and subsequent bankruptcy.
Despite facing significant challenges, including a return to Serie B by 2015, the club endured a difficult 2015-16 season, finishing at the bottom of the table and being relegated back to Serie C.
After another period of financial turmoil and restarting life in Serie D in 2017-18, Como began to see an upward trajectory.
Their change in fortune coincided with the acquisition by UK-based media and entertainment company SENT Entertainment in April 2019.
Just over a month later, Como secured promotion back to the third tier after a remarkable campaign, winning 28 out of 34 league matches and losing only once.
Following a respectable 13th place finish in Serie C in 2019-20, Como shocked the third tier by clinching the title in 2020-21, earning their second promotion in three seasons.
With their promotion to Serie A, Como’s ambitions now shift towards competing in the top flight.
The stars arrive, and the stars align
Former Wimbledon, Chelsea, Millwall, and England midfielder Dennis Wise played a crucial role in the club’s achievements.
Wise assumed the role of sporting director shortly after the SENT Entertainment acquisition and has since served as an advisor.
The 57-year-old was present in the stands for Como’s final-day clash with Cosenza, alongside Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy.
Not content with just one former Premier League star, Como made headlines with the signing of ex-Spain, Arsenal, and Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas in the summer of 2022.
The 2010 World Cup winner made 17 league appearances as Como finished the season in 13th position.
Fabregas was soon joined in Lombardy by Arsenal and France legend Thierry Henry, who, like Fabregas, holds a stake in the club.
Following his solitary season as a player, Fabregas transitioned to coaching and briefly assumed the role of interim head coach of the first team in November, after a spell with the club’s under-19s.
However, a month later, former Wales and Crystal Palace assistant manager Roberts took over as caretaker boss until the end of the season, as Fabregas had not yet obtained the required UEFA coaching license.
Assisted by Fabregas, Roberts guided the team to 12 victories in 21 matches, securing promotion to Serie A for the first time in over two decades.
Speaking to BBC Sport Wales, Como manager Osian Roberts expressed his immense pride at the achievement.
“I came here in December. The target was to try and get promotion, if not build strongly towards next season.
“I can’t praise the players highly enough. All credit goes to them and all the staff I’ve worked closely with. We knitted very quickly and very well, and a special mention has to go to Cesc Fabregas (assistant manager).
“We’re extremely pleased that we’ve achieved what the target was, and it’s a dream come true.”
Comments are closed.