Super Samp back on song

By Svend Frandsen

UC Sampdoria supporters will have been especially depressed when Wembley stadium's famous Twin Towers, icons of world sport for 80 years, were demolished last month.

Special place
The legendary arena occupies a special place in the proud history of the Italian club. It was the venue where Sampdoria celebrated their finest hour, reaching the European Champion Clubs' Cup final in 1992 against Johan Cruyff's FC Barcelona.

Attacking power
Spearheaded by a lethal attacking partnership of Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Mancini, Sampdoria put up a brave effort but were eventually defeated by an extra-time drive from Dutch free-kick specialist Ronald Koeman.

Club merger
However, nobody had even contemplated that the club would one day stand on the threshold of European glory when two of the clubs which had been struggling to compete with Genoa 1893, Andrea Doria and Sampierdarenese, merged to form Sampdoria in 1946.

Genoa upstarts
The new club could boast nothing like Genoa's level of support, but in their first season 'Samp' won both city derbies, setting a pattern for the coming seasons in which the upstarts would regularly finish above their more illustrious neighbours in Serie A.

Mantovani intervention
However, although the 'Blucerchiati' enjoyed a few successful years, the team generally suffered from instability and the dream seemed to be fading when Paolo Mantovani arrived on the scene in 1981 as new club president.

Key signings
The oil magnate did not just bring cash to the club but insight into the game. This prompted him to sign the young and inexperienced Mancini and Vialli for minimal fees along with Brazilian midfield veteran Toninho Cerezo and defensive ace Pietro Vierchowod in the space of four years.

Brilliant move
Always ambitious, Mantovani continued to augment his squad and to conduct his finely tuned orchestra. The Sampdoria president signed Yugoslavian maestro Vujadin Boskov as coach in what was probably the shrewdest move of all.

Final triumph
Boskov's ability to change his team's formation to suit the occasion proved especially useful in Europe where, in consecutive years - 1988/89 and 1989/90 - they twice reached the final of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. At the first attempt they lost 2-0 against Barcelona but the following year they got their revenge in Gothenburg when two goals in extra time from Vialli gave them a 2-0 win against RSC Anderlecht.

Empire crumbles
Sampdoria looked set to compete at the highest level for many years after winning what proved to be their only Italian title to date in 1991 but, at the peak of their glory, the empire began to crumble. Mantovani died in 1993 to be replaced by his son Enrico, who unfortunately had not inherited his father's magic touch.

Lost momentum
The club proved unable to sustain the momentum they had enjoyed in the beginning of the 90s with a host of players leaving the club, and their misery was compounded in 1999 when the club were relegated to Serie B. Enrico Mantovani resigned the following year after protests from supporters.

Back in business
However, after four years away from the limelight, things might finally be beginning to look up. Before the weekend's action, 'Samp' were top in Serie B, 14 places above their old rivals Genoa with 15 matches left to play. The Genovese might yet be flooding to top-flight football at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in the season to come.

Lombardo hopes
"This town simply needs a team in Serie A," said former player Attilio Lombardo. For Genoa's sake, one can only hope Sampdoria are ready to put the city back on the European footballing map.