The History of U.S. Settignanese:
A Rossonero Dream Since 1970
Unione Sportiva Settignanese was founded in 1970 from a simple yet ambitious idea: to create an organization dedicated to youth football that would serve as a sporting and educational benchmark for the city of Florence.
What began as a dream among friends has evolved today into a robust social community, built on the passion of those—such as the founding members and the Romei brothers—who believed in the educational value of sport.
The Origins:
The Concrete "Handkerchief" and the First Devils
It all started on a small parish pitch in Settignano, where the first 18 boys trained under the guidance of the first President and coach, Maurizio Romei.
In those pioneering years, the historic headquarters in Piazza Niccolò Tommaseo (known as “Le Colonnine”) became the command center for the club's survival. Without an actual home pitch of their own, the team moved between the woods of Montebeni and makeshift fields, forging the spirit of sacrifice of the very first, historic rossonero athletes.
The Rossonero Identity
and the Devil Mascot
The official club colors of Settignanese have a curious history: born from repurposing old post-war jerseys, the black kits with red trim quickly became the club's trademark.
To avoid any political misunderstandings and to give the team a powerful identity, the Devil was chosen as the official mascot, turning the “Diavoli Rossoneri” (Red and Black Devils) into an icon of Tuscan amateur football.
Growth and Great Names:
From Sconcerti to Olympic Champions
In the 1970s, the club began to establish itself on the football scene, becoming a launching pad for extraordinary talent.
In 1974, Fiorentina signed Marco Sconcerti (son of a footballer and brother of the famous journalist Mario) from Settignanese. Illustrious names have passed through the rossonero ranks, including Skeet Olympic Champion Andrea Benelli and Serie C referee Simone Ponzalli, showcasing the excellence of our youth academy.
A Breeding Ground for Champions:
From Coverciano to Serie A
The true strength of Settignanese has always lied in its extraordinary ability to scout and nurture raw talent. Our youth academy, a true crown jewel of Tuscan football, has served as the launching pad for names that have shaped the recent history of Italian football.
Champions of the highest caliber grew up among the “Diavoli Rossoneri,” including Federico Chiesa, a driving force for both the Italian National Team and Serie A, and Lorenzo Tonelli, an international-class defender boasting over 250 professional appearances, 127 of which were in Serie A.
Tonelli proudly wore the jerseys of prestigious clubs such as Empoli (becoming a club icon with 188 total appearances), Napoli, and Sampdoria, while also gracing the European stages of the Champions League and Europa League.
Our elite football academy does not just shape athletes, but also prominent technical figures: it was right here that Luca Tognozzi took his first steps before building a solid career in professional football. Seeing these talents blossom on our pitches is proof that the Settignanese method, built on technique and discipline, is a guarantee for the future of young athletes.
The Move to Coverciano
and the Growth of the Youth Sector
The structural turning point came in the 1980s with the allocation of the Cerreti facility in Campo di Marte, followed by the memorandum of understanding for the new “Romagnoli” pitches in Coverciano, right next to the Federal Technical Center.
Under the presidency of Andrea Daliana (former Fiorentina player) and Maurizio Romei, Settignanese experienced exponential technical growth, winning numerous regional and provincial titles and cementing its reputation across youth and amateur categories.
An Evolving Community
Today, Settignanese continues to build on the foundation laid by its founding fathers. Thanks to the contribution of historic coaches and tireless directors, we have become a prominent city institution that blends the competitive spirit of an Elite Football Academy with the warmth of a large sporting family. Dreams are important, but seeing them come to life on the pitch every single day is our greatest victory.
As our community grows, so does the club’s corporate structure. Starting from the 2026/27 season, US Settignanese has transitioned from an ASD (Amateur Sports Association) to a non-profit SSD a r.l. This evolution—made possible also by the arrival of the new major shareholder Domenico Iuliano, who guides the club's Board of Directors as Chief Executive Officer alongside President Maurizio Romei—has established a more functional organizational structure. At the same time, it ensures a sporting and corporate commitment aimed at preserving and carrying forward, for years to come, a dream that began more than 50 years ago.