2004–05 U.S. Città di Palermo season

U.S. Città di Palermo played the season 2004-05 in the Serie A league. It was the first time Palermo entered the top division since 1973.

Review and events

Palermo returned to Serie A in 2004 as Serie B champions. Francesco Guidolin was confirmed at the helm of the rosanero and a number of valuable signings were made in the summer market: among them, Andrea Barzagli, Cristian Zaccardo, Simone Barone (all three then part of the Italian squad that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup) and Argentines Mariano González and Ernesto Farías. The team was widely expected to be a candidate for a mid-table place because of the high quality of its roster. All these events provoked a notable excitement among the local fanbase, leading to a sale of over 30,000 season tickets which caused each Stadio Renzo Barbera seat to be assigned to a season ticket holder.

Palermo enjoyed a great start and quickly entered into the race for a UEFA Cup spot, ending the first half of the season in fifth place, only three points behind fourth-placed Inter. For a while the team appeared also capable to fight for a place in the next Champions' League, but failed in do so and Udinese eventually gained the last of the four available spots. Palermo ended in sixth place with 53 points, nine behind Udinese and eight behind fifth-placed Sampdoria. After the final match, Guidolin tended his resignations, and Luigi Delneri was quickly appointed at his place.

In the Coppa Italia tournament, the rosanero reached the round of 16 after having defeated Salernitana 3-2 on aggregate. The return match notably marked the only two goals by Argentine striker Ernesto Farías, who failed to impress in the Italian top league and was sold to River Plate in the January transfer window. In order to replace him, Davide Possanzini was signed by from AlbinoLeffe. Palermo then went on to be defeated 4-1 on aggregate by AC Milan.

2004-05 squad

No. Pos Nat Player TotalSerie ACoppa Italia
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK Italy Nicola Santoni 5-91-34-6
84 GK Italy Paolo Comi 000000
99 GK Italy Matteo Guardalben 37-4137-4100
2 DF Italy Cristian Zaccardo 37235220
6 DF Italy Christian Terlizzi 19115140
11 DF Italy Fabio Grosso 38136120
13 DF Italy Pietro Accardi 301020
21 DF Italy Giuseppe Biava 32029030
25 DF Sierra Leone Kewullay Conteh 15014010
43 DF Italy Andrea Barzagli 40037030
81 DF Italy Michele Ferri 907020
4 MF Italy Stefano Morrone 27023040
5 MF Italy Eugenio Corini 37035020
8 MF Italy Simone Barone 38235230
10 MF Italy Lamberto Zauli 28427410
18 MF Argentina Mario Santana 33330330
19 MF Argentina Mariano González 25221240
20 MF Italy Cristian Raimondi 17014030
22 MF Italy Massimo Mutarelli 26124120
90 MF Italy Franco Brienza 3711331041
9 FW Italy Luca Toni 3621352011
14 FW Italy Davide Possanzini 202000
26 FW Italy Pietro Balistreri 302010
Players sold or loaned out during the January transfer market:
30 DF Brazil Adriano Pereira da Silva 301020
46 MF Italy Andrea Gasbarroni 909000
7 FW Argentina Ernesto Farías 16213032

January transfer market bids

In
14 Italy FW Davide Possanzini (from AlbinoLeffe)
Out
30 Brazil DF Adriano Pereira da Silva (loaned to Atalanta)
46 Italy MF Andrea Gasbarroni (to Sampdoria)
7 Argentina FW Ernesto Farías (to River Plate)

Results

Serie A

Date and timeOpponent teamHome/AwayResult
Sep 12, 2004 – 15.00 Siena H 1-0
Sep 18, 2004 – 20.30 Inter A 1-1
Sep 22, 2004 – 20.30 Fiorentina H 0-0
Sep 25, 2004 – 20.30 Juventus A 1-1
Oct 3, 2004 – 15.00 Bologna H 1-0
Oct 17, 2004 – 15.00 Lecce A 0-2
Oct 24, 2004 – 15.00 AS Roma A 1-1
Oct 27, 2004 – 20.30 Livorno H 1-2
Oct 31, 2004 – 20.30 Udinese A 0-1
Nov 7, 2004 – 15.00 Parma H 1-1
Nov 11, 2004 – 20.30 Messina A 0-0
Nov 14, 2004 – 15.00 Sampdoria H 2-0
Nov 28, 2004 – 15.00 Brescia A 2-0
Dec 5, 2004 – 15.00 Atalanta H 1-0
Dec 12, 2004 – 15.00 Chievo A 1-2
Dec 19, 2004 – 20.30 Cagliari H 3-0
Jan 6, 2005 – 15.00 Reggina A 0-1
Jan 9, 2005 – 20.30 AC Milan H 0-0
Jan 16, 2005 – 15.00 Lazio A 3-1
Jan 23, 2005 – 15.00 Siena A 0-0
Jan 30, 2005 – 20.30 Inter H 0-2
Feb 2, 2005 – 20.30 Fiorentina A 2-1
Feb 5, 2005 – 20.30 Juventus H 1-0
Feb 13, 2005 – 15.00 Bologna A 1-1
Feb 20, 2005 – 15.00 Lecce H 3-2
Feb 27, 2005 – 15.00 AS Roma H 2-0
Mar 6, 2005 – 20.30 Livorno A 2-2
Mar 13, 2005 – 15.00 Udinese H 1-5
Mar 20, 2005 – 15.00 Parma A 3-3
Apr 10, 2005 – 15.00 Messina H 2-1
Apr 16, 2005 – 20.30 Sampdoria A 0-1
Apr 20, 2005 – 20.30 Brescia H 3-3
Apr 24, 2005 – 15.00 Atalanta A 0-1
May 1, 2005 – 20.30 Chievo H 2-2
May 8, 2005 – 15.00 Cagliari A 0-0
May 15, 2005 – 15.00 Reggina H 1-1
May 20, 2005 – 20.30 AC Milan A 3-3
May 29, 2005 – 15.00 Lazio H 3-3

Coppa Italia

Date and timeOpponent teamHome/AwayResult
Sep 15, 2004 – 20.30 Salernitana A 1-2
Sep 28, 2004 – 18.00 Salernitana H 2-0
Nov 20, 2004 – 21.00 AC Milan H 1-2
Jan 12, 2005 – 21.00 AC Milan A 0-2
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