Modena back in top flight
[ARTICOLO] [UEFA.COM]

After an outstanding season, Modena FC have secured promotion to Serie A with three matches to go before the end of the season. This promotion is even more astonishing considering that Modena were only promoted to Serie B at the end of last season.

Decisive point
The club's last appearance in Italy's top division was 38 years ago, but Modena took the decisive point in a 0-0 draw to get them back to Seria A on Sunday against Genoa 1893 at the Luigi Ferraris stadium - the same stadium where Modena were first relegated to Serie B by Sampdoria UC and then to Serie C some 14 years ago against Genoa.

Agonising wait
On Sunday, the hardest moments for Modena's players were the neverending minutes between the end of their game and the final whistle of SSC Napoli's match at Cosenza Calcio - a 1-1 draw which finally sealed Modena's return to Italy's top flight. The players gathered around the few radios available to listen to the other match that was in stoppage time, before starting the celebrations together with some 3,500 fans who followed the team to Genoa.

Immense achievement
In only two seasons, head coach Gianni De Biasi has managed to bring Modena from Serie C to Serie A - an outstanding achievement considering the club's financial constraints. De Biasi formed a solid group of players when playing in Serie C and kept most of the group together after last season's promotion adding just a few new elements to strengthen the team.

The new Chievo
Another success story like AC Chievo Verona? Not really, according to De Biasi who sees Chievo's success as built up over eight years of hard work, while Modena are just at the beginning of a new era having made a new start just two years ago.

Key signings
Modena's miraculous run was indeed launched in 2000, when sporting director Doriano Tosi managed to bring Andrea Fabbrini, Rubens Pasino and Vito Grieco from newly-promoted Serie B side FC Cortone. Fabbrini scored 24 goals in 66 matches for Modena proving decisive for the double promotion, while Pasino and Grieco advanced quickly to become key players in De Biasi's 3-4-1-2 formation.

Experienced goalkeeper
The three players have probably established a new record by winning three consecutive promotions, twice to Serie B with Crotone and Modena, and now to Serie A. With Marco Ballotta in goal, De Biasi could also count on an experienced rearguard - the goalkeeper won several national and international titles when playing as reserve goalkeeper at Parma AC, S.S. Lazio and Internazionale FC.

'Strict tactical instructions'
"To convince somebody to watch Modena I would say that my team plays good football and never gives up," explained De Biasi on Sunday. "My players always try to avoid kicking the ball away and follow my strict tactical instructions, even though we do not want to kill off the creative part of the game."

Limited means
Even though De Biasi wants to keep the hardcore group of his players together, the club now has the difficult task of looking for reinforcements despite limited financial means.

Stadium expansion
Their other worry is the refurbishment of their Alberto Braglia stadium. The current capacity of 12,091 should be raised to 17,000 for the beginning of the coming season and next year, and once the enlargement works have been concluded the capacity should be about 20,000.