Italian Football League

Italian American football league

Not to be confused with Italian football league system.

Italian Football League

Classification| Top level league
Sport| American football
Founded| 1978; 47 years ago (1978)
First season| 1980
CEO| Enrico Mambelli[1][2]
No. of teams| Max 12
Country|  Italy
Most recent
champion(s)| Guelfi Firenze
(2nd title) (2025)
Most titles| Bergamo Lions
(12 titles)
Level on pyramid| Level 1
Official website| www.fidaf.com

Italian Football League (IFL; the name is in English) is the top level American football league in Italy first established in 1978. The first recognized league champion was crowned in 1980.

The annual final playoff game to determine the league champion is called the Italian Bowl, that awards, for American football, the title of "champion of Italy" and the scudetto.[3]

## Background

[edit]

Spaghetti Bowl, American football bowl game played in Florence, Italy, on 1 January 1945

In Italy, the first American football game took place in Genoa on 27 November 1913 when the teams of the USS Connecticut and USS Kansas faced each other, two of the 14 ships of the American Great White Fleet temporarily docked in the Ligurian port during an exercise cruise in the Mediterranean Sea. USS Connecticut won 17–6.[4]

After this sporadic appearance, American football returned to Italy with the Allied troops during World War II. American football followed the advance of the US units from the south to the north of the Italian peninsula. On 23 November 1944, a touch football match was played at the Stadio della Vittoria in Bari, between the Playboys and the Technical School.[5] The trophy, called the "Bambino Bowl", was won by the Technical School 13–0 in front of an audience of 5,000.[6]

A little over a month later, the Spaghetti Bowl[7] was held in Florence in front of 25,000 people on New Year's Day 1945 between the Bridgebusters (representatives of the Twelfth Air Force) and the Mudders (United States Army North); the Mudders won 20–0.[8] Although probably other matches were played in those years of which no documentation remains, the first in peacetime, took place in Trieste, the last territory liberated from the Nazi-Fascists, in January 1948. The match was organized by the Trieste United States Troops and saw the SP'S prevail over D Company by "three touchdowns" (then 21–0).[9]

## History

[edit]

Legnano Frogs celebrate victory after winning the XV Italian Bowl in 1995

In the 1970s teams formed and played in Italy. The first American football championship organized in Italy, which was never recognized by the federation, took place in 1977 and was won by the Tori Torino [it].

Among the games played in the 1970s there was the first official match played between Italian American football teams in preparation for the first championship officially recognized by the federation; played on 24 June 1978 at the Stadio Carlo Speroni in Busto Arsizio, it was won 36–0 by the Rhinos Milano over the Gallarate Frogs.[10]

In 1980 the first official American football league in Italy was established and crowned a champion.[11] This championship did not include a final and was won by Lupi Roma [it]. However, the title of first champions of Italy was recognized to the Lupi only in 2016.[12]

Palermo Sharks [it] in 2008

The Italian league (Series A) in the late 1970s and early 1980s, was one of the first leagues in Europe to sign professional import players and coaches from the USA. The league had good popularity in the early years especially the late 1980s and early 1990s with reported attendance of nearly 20,000 fans for a Series A league final championship game in that time period.[13] American Football in Italy has had ups and downs since that time but has always had a competitive league with different lower levels playing below the Italian Football League (IFL).

XXXIV Italian Bowl, won by Milano Seamen vs. Parma Panthers in 2014.

The new IFL was founded in 2007, taking over previous league's significance called (National Football League Italy).[14] The league was born as a result of the escape of several of the best clubs of the old championship organized by the Italian federation, such as Milano Rhinos, Parma Panthers, Bologna Doves and Bolzano Giants. However some of the historic Italian clubs have not joined the new league and continue to participate in different tournaments organized by other federations.

In the following years a lot of teams moved to the Federazione Italiana di American Football [it] (the federation the IFL belongs to)[15] and most of the biggest teams are now again part of the IFL that is the First Division or in the other two divisions.

The Bergamo Lions have won the most Italian Super Bowl league championships winning 12 finals.

On Saturday, July 1, 2023, Italian Bowl XLII was played at the Glass Bowl Stadium on the campus of The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA. This marked the first Italian Football League Championship held outside of Europe. The Parma Panthers won the game played in front of nearly 10,000 fans, and was televised in the United States.

## IFL teams

[edit]

Rhinos Milano vs. Catania Elephants in 2008 at Velodromo Vigorelli, Milan

* Ancona Dolphins (2008–present)
* Bergamo Lions (2008–10, 2012, 2014–2019, 2025)
* Bologna Doves (2008–09, 2011–12) (now in III Division)
* Bologna Warriors (2009–present)
* Bolzano Giants (2008–2020)
* Catania Elephants (2008–12) (now in II Division)
* Deamons Cernusco (2012)
* Ferrara Aquile (2014–2017, 2025)
* Firenze Guelfi (2016–present)
* Lazio Marines (2018–present)
* Legnano Frogs (2023–present)
* Martesana Daemons (2012) (now in II Division)
* Mastini Verona (2022–2023)
* Milano Rhinos (2008–2018, 2020–present)
* Milano Seamen (2011–2022) (now in II division)
* Napoli Briganti (2014–?) (now in III Division)
* Palermo Corsari (2008 †)
* Palermo Sharks (2008) (now in II Division)
* Parma Panthers (2008–present)
* Reggio Emilia Hogs (2009–13) (now in II Division)
* Roma Grizzlies (2015–2018) (now in II division)
* Savona Pirates (2025)
* Torino Giaguari (2014–2020, 2023–present)
* UTA Pesaro (2018)
* Varese Skorpions (2023–present)

† defunct
♦ due to league expansion the Napoli team can play the 2015 IFL season and is not relegated to the second division
‡ Roma Grizzlies won the second division championship and earned the right to play the 2015 IFL season[16]

## Italian Bowl

[edit]

Italian Bowl is the annual final play-off game of the Italian Football League (IFL) to determine the league champion. It is the game that awards, for American football, the title of "champion of Italy" and the scudetto.[3] Until 2014 the championship game was called Italian Super Bowl.

The scudetto, a decoration having the colors of the flag of Italy which is sewn onto the jersey of the Italian sports clubs that won the highest level championship of their respective sport in the previous season. Game | Year | Winner | Opponent | Result | Location

|
|
|
|
|

\-  | 1980  |  Lupi Roma | - | Group winners  | \-
I  | 1981  |  Rhinos Milano | Frogs Gallarate | 24–8  | Stadio Eugenio Broccardi, Santa Margherita Ligure
II  | 1982  |  Rhinos Milano | Frogs Gallarate | 11–0  | Stadio Tonino Benelli, Pesaro
III  | 1983  |  Rhinos Milano | Warriors Bologna | 20–14  | Palasport di Genova, Genoa
IV  | 1984  |  Frogs Busto Arsizio | Warriors Bologna | 16–6  | Stadio Romeo Neri, Rimini
V  | 1985  |  Doves Bologna | Angels Pesaro | 27–11  | Stadio Silvio Appiani, Padova
VI  | 1986  |  Warriors Bologna | Angels Pesaro | 18–8  | Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, Bologna
VII  | 1987  |  Frogs Legnano | Milano Seamen | 27–24  | Stadio Romeo Neri, Rimini
VIII  | 1988  |  Frogs Legnano | Warriors Bologna | 17–0  | Stadio Dorico, Ancona
IX  | 1989  |  Frogs Legnano | Milano Seamen | 39–33  | Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma
X  | 1990  |  Rhinos Milano | Frogs Legnano | 33–6  | Stadio Romeo Neri, Rimini
XI  | 1991  |  Giaguari Torino | Phoenix San Lazzaro | 38–16  | Stadio Brianteo, Monza
XII  | 1992  |  Pharaones Milano | Lions Bergamo | 35–25  | Stadio Druso, Bolzano
XIII  | 1993  |  Lions Bergamo | Gladiatori Roma | 48–39  | Stadio Comunale, Telgate
XIV  | 1994  |  Frogs Legnano | Rhinos Milano | 37–27  | Stadio Giovanni Mari, Legnano
XV  | 1995  |  Frogs Legnano | Gladiatori Roma | 32–26  | Stadio Alfiero Moretti, Cesenatico
XVI  | 1996  |  Phoenix Bologna | Gladiatori Roma | 25–20  | Stadio Dorico, Ancona
XVII  | 1997  |  Phoenix Bologna | Frogs Legnano | 42–35  | Stadio Brianteo, Monza
XVIII  | 1998  |  Lions Bergamo | Frogs Legnano | 29–28  | Stadio Santa Maria Goretti, Catania
XIX  | 1999  |  Lions Bergamo | Giants Bolzano | 49–14  | Stadio Europa, Bolzano
XX  | 2000  |  Lions Bergamo | Giants Bolzano | 49–27  | Velodromo Vigorelli, Milan
XXI  | 2001  |  Lions Bergamo | Dolphins Ancona | 30–24  | Stadio Europa, Bolzano
XXII  | 2002  |  Lions Bergamo | Dolphins Ancona | 21–14  | Stadio Europa, Bolzano
XXIII  | 2003  |  Lions Bergamo | Dolphins Ancona | 45–0  | Polisportivo Comunale, Civitanova Marche
XXIV  | 2004  |  Lions Bergamo | Dolphins Ancona | 14–13  | Stadio Andrea Torelli, Scandiano
XXV  | 2005  |  Lions Bergamo | Warriors Bologna | 42–14  | Stadio Andrea Torelli, Scandiano
XXVI  | 2006  |  Lions Bergamo | Panthers Parma | 24–12  | Stadio Andrea Torelli, Scandiano
XXVII  | 2007  |  Lions Bergamo | Panthers Parma | 55–49 (2 OT)  | Stadio Andrea Torelli, Scandiano
XXVIII  | 2008  |  Lions Bergamo | Giants Bolzano | 56–54  | Stadio Comunale, San Giovanni in Marignano
XXIX  | 2009  |  Giants Bolzano | Marines Lazio | 35–21  | Stadio Dei Pini, Milano Marittima
XXX  | 2010  |  Panthers Parma | Elephants Catania | 56–26  | Stadio Breda, Sesto San Giovanni
XXXI  | 2011  |  Panthers Parma | Warriors Bologna | 76–62  | Stadio XXV Aprile, Parma
XXXII  | 2012  |  Panthers Parma | Elephants Catania | 61–43  | Stadio Franco Ossola, Varese
XXXIII  | 2013  |  Panthers Parma | Milano Seamen | 51–28  | Stadio Paolo Mazza, Ferrara
XXXIV  | 2014  |  Milano Seamen | Panthers Parma | 33–30 | Stadio Paolo Mazza, Ferrara
XXXV  | 2015  |  Milano Seamen | Panthers Parma | 24–14  | Velodromo Vigorelli, Milan
XXXVI  | 2016  |  Rhinos Milano | Giants Bolzano | 44–18  | Stadio Dino Manuzzi, Cesena
XXXVII  | 2017  |  Milano Seamen | Rhinos Milano | 37–29  | Stadio Romeo Menti, Vicenza
XXXVIII  | 2018  |  Milano Seamen | Giants Bolzano | 28–14  | Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
XXXIX  | 2019  |  Milano Seamen | Firenze Guelfi | 62–28  | Stadio Breda, Sesto San Giovanni
\-  | 2020  | No season played because of the COVID-19 pandemic
XL  | 2021  |  Panthers Parma | Milano Seamen | 40–34 (OT)  | Stadio Leonardo Garilli, Piacenza
XLI  | 2022  |  Firenze Guelfi | Milano Seamen | 21–17  | Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, Bologna
XLII  | 2023  |  Panthers Parma | Firenze Guelfi | 29–13  | Glass Bowl, Toledo, OH
XLIII  | 2024  |  Panthers Parma | Firenze Guelfi | 38–26  | Stadio Bruno Benelli, Ravenna
XLIV  | 2025  |  Firenze Guelfi | Dolphins Ancona | 49–14  | Glass Bowl, Toledo, OH

### Number of Italian Bowl victories

[edit]

VIII Eurobowl in 1994, Lions Bergamo vs. London Olympians. Italian teams that have won the Eurobowl have been Frogs Legnano (1989) and Lions Bergamo (2000, 2001 and 2002) Victories | Team | Seasons

|
|

12  | Lions Bergamo | 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
7  | Panthers Parma | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2021, 2023, 2024
6  | Frogs Legnano | 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995
5  | Milano Seamen | 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
5  | Rhinos Milano | 1981, 1982, 1983, 1990, 2016
2  | Firenze Guelfi | 2022, 2025
1  | Giants Bolzano | 2009
1  | Pharaones Milano | 1992
1  | Giaguari Torino | 1991
1  | Warriors Bologna | 1986
1  | Doves Bologna | 1985
1  | Lupi Roma | 1980

### Geographical distribution of Italian Bowl winners

[edit]

Bergamo (Lions)

Parma (Panthers)

Bolzano (Giants)

Turin (Giaguari)

Busto Arsizio (Frogs)

Legnano (Frogs)

Milan (Pharaones, Rhinos, Seamen)

Bologna (Doves, Warriors, Phoenix)

Florence (Guelfi)

Rome (Lupi,Marines)

class=notpageimage|

Geographical distribution of Italian Bowl winners

## See also

[edit]

* American football portal
* Italy portal

* American football
* Scudetto
* Spaghetti Bowl (American football)
* Sport in Italy

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Enrico Mambelli è il nuovo Presidente della Italian Football League Archived 2015-02-12 at the Wayback Machine
2. ^ "Enrico Mambelli Presidente". Archived from the original on February 12, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
3. ^ a b "Francesco Pastorelli (PD): "I Guelfi Firenze campioni d'Italia di football americano"" (in Italian). 4 July 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
4. ^ Massimo Foglio, L'Europa lunga un piede, p. 14 - ISBN 1-4810-2028-5
5. ^ Massimo Foglio, L'Europa lunga un piede, p. 67 - ISBN 1-4810-2028-5
6. ^ Bambino Bowl Archived 22 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine
7. ^ Massimo Foglio, L'Europa lunga un piede, p. 69 - ISBN 1-4810-2028-5
8. ^ Spaghetti Bowl
9. ^ TRUST Football
10. ^ "La storia" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
11. ^ "Football Americano. La squadra del primo Scudetto in Italia torna a vivere" (in Italian). Retrieved 31 May 2023.
12. ^ "Roma campione del football 36 anni dopo. L'emozione del qb Volterra: "Noi, i pionieri dei touchdown italiani"" (in Italian). Retrieved 2 June 2023.
13. ^ "Football Americano" (in Italian). Retrieved 31 May 2023.
14. ^ "New Era annuncia la partnership con la Italian Football League" (in Italian). Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
15. ^ "Football americano" (in Italian). Retrieved 31 May 2023.
16. ^ "I Grizzlies sbranano gli Elephants - Sport Locale - iltempo". Archived from the original on 2014-10-28. Retrieved 2014-10-28.

## External links

[edit]

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