Fifteen years ago, Parma embarked on their most successful season in Serie A to date, as they finished second to Juventus. The excitement was palpable, and fans of the Ducali were eagerly anticipating their team's shot at glory. In the run-up to the season, their football shirt with the iconic Parmalat Sponsor were flying off the shelves as supporters prepared to cheer on their heroes.
To this day, the end to the 1996-97 season still irks fans of the club. A dubious penalty awarded at the Stadio delle Alpi cost Carlo Ancelotti’s men their very first Scudetto. The disappointment was felt keenly throughout the city, but it didn't dampen the love that the fans had for their team.
The tale of Parma is a rags-to-riches story. The club went from a provincial team to a European powerhouse in no time at all. At the heart of their success was the Tanzi family, who owned 98 percent of the club and pumped countless amounts of money into it. The likes of Zola, Stoichkov, Crespo, and Thuram were just a few of the stars on the pitch at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, and the fans were thrilled.
At the time, it may have seemed too good to be true, and unfortunately, it was. The club was deprived of their main source of income when the Parmalat scandal broke, and the company collapsed due to a £13 billion hole in its accounts. It was a dark time for Parma, but the fans stuck by their team.
The club fought back from the brink of abyss and are now back as an established Serie A team after a spell in Serie B. The football shirts are still flying off the shelves, and the fans are still as passionate as ever. Parma may not have won the Scudetto yet, but their loyal supporters know that anything is possible. They continue to cheer on their team with the same enthusiasm and dedication that they always have. The tale of Parma is a reminder that no matter how difficult things get, true fans will always stick by their team.
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