CLUB

HISTORY

1908

 

 

FC Lugano is born

Football Club Lugano was founded on July 28, 1908, under the leadership of then-president Ernesto Corsini. For nearly 50 years, the team played its home matches at Campo Marzio.

1922

 

 

Promotion to the top league

In the 1920s, the club earned its first-ever promotion to the highest level of Swiss soccer.

1931

 

First Swiss Cup

FC Lugano claimed its first Swiss Cup title, beating Grasshopper Club Zürich 2-1 at Campo Marzio after extra time. Scorers Sturzi and Poretti.

1938

 

First national title

For the first time, the club was crowned Swiss champions, reaching the summit of Swiss soccer.

1941

 

Second national title

Just a few seasons later, the club secured its second Swiss championship title.

1949

 

Third national title

After a few unsuccessful years, Lugano returned to glory with another Swiss league title.

1951

 

Cornaredo Stadium opens

On August 26, 1951, the Cornaredo Stadium was officially opened, replacing the historic Campo Marzio.

1968

 

Second Swiss Cup

On April 15, 1968, Lugano lifted its second Swiss Cup, defeating Winterthur 2-1 at the Wankdorf in Bern. Scorers Luttrop and Simonetti.

1971-1972

 

First appearance in the UEFA Cup

Lugano made its debut in the UEFA Cup, exiting in the round of 32 against Legia Warsaw.

1993

 

Third Swiss Cup

Lugano won its third Swiss Cup, beating Grasshopper Club Zürich. Scorers Andrioli, twice Subiat and Fornera. The victory earned them a spot in the Cup Winners’ Cup.

1993-1994

 

Cup Winners' Cup

After ousting Neman Grodno of Belarus, the run was halted in the round of 16 against Real Madrid.

2001

 

 

UEFA Champions League qualifiers

At the end of the 2000–2001 season, the Bianconeri finished second in the league and qualified for the Champions League qualifiers for the first time. They were eliminated by Shakhtar Donetsk after a 3-0 loss in the first leg, despite a 2-1 victory for Lugano in the return match at Cornaredo.

2003

 

 

Bankruptcy

In April 2003, due to severe financial difficulties, the club declared bankruptcy. The club was re-founded the following season as Associazione Calcio Lugano, starting over from the 2nd League Interregional (fifth division in Switzerland) with its U21 team.

2004

 

 

Merger with Malcantone Agno

On June 30, 2004, AC Lugano merged with FC Malcantone Agno, which had just been promoted to the Challenge League.

2008

 

 

Return to the name FC Lugano

On June 4, 2008, during a special shareholders’ meeting, the club officially returned to its historic name—Football Club Lugano—in celebration of its 100th anniversary.

2015

 

 

Return to Super League

After majority shares were gradually acquired by Angelo Renzetti starting in 2012-2013, the club was promoted to the Super League at the end of the 2014-2015 season.

2021

 

 

Joe Mansueto buys FC Lugano

In August 2021, FC Lugano was passed into the hands of Joe Mansueto, owner of Chicago Fire FC. This was the start of a new era for Lugano.

2022

 

Fourth Swiss Cup

On May 15, 2022, Lugano lifted its fourth Swiss Cup, defeating St. Gallen 4-1 at the Wankdorf in Bern.

FC Lugano Timeline
1908
Sept. 13, 1908: Martius Field is inaugurated. The team will play on the "Campo Marzio" ground for nearly 50 years.
1931 🏆🏆
Lugano won its first Swiss Cup and the Swiss championship the same year.
1938
For the first time, the club climbed to the top of Swiss soccer, winning its first national championship title.
1941
A few seasons later came a second national triumph as well, with another Swiss title.
1949
After a few unsuccessful seasons here is Lugano becoming Swiss champion again.
1951
After half a century at "Campo Marzio," the results prompted the city to build a new stadium, and so, on August 26, 1951, the Cornaredo facility was inaugurated.
1961 🏆
In 1968 Lugano won the Swiss Cup again, and the victory allowed participation in the Cup Winners' Cup, while two years later the team participated in the UEFA Cup.
1993
In 1993, Lugano won its third Swiss Cup against Grasshoppers and subsequently participated in the Cup Winners' Cup, where it captured qualification in the second round.
1995-96
In the 1995-96 season, the Lugano lineup got to participate in the UEFA Cup by eliminating Jeunesse in the first round and Inter in the second.
2015
The HCL club, whose majority stake was acquired from the 2012-2013 season by real estate developer Angelo Renzetti, won promotion to the Super League after numerous unsuccessful attempts.
2021
During August 2021, the transfer of ownership from Angelo Renzetti and Leonid Novoselskyi to Joe Mansueto, owner of Chicago Fire FC in MLS and founder of the company Morningstar, materialized.
2022 🏆
The 2021-22 season ended triumphantly on May 15, 2022 at Wankdorf Stadium in Bern, with the club winning the fourth Swiss Cup in its history.