Livorno returns to Serie A and all the other promotion verdicts in Italy plus where all the Serie A teams will be spending their summer

By: Francesco | June 22nd, 2009

Livorno ended their one year stay in Serie B on Saturday with a 3-0 win over Brescia in the promotion play-off final second leg (first leg was 2-2). The Amaranto got two goals from their two star players Francesco Tavano and Alessandro Diamanti before Martin Bergvold added a third. The promotion is a great joy for Livorno, who were expected to be a force in Serie B this season and grab an automatic promotion place. With Bari and Parma having awesome seasons, Livorno were reduced to a play-off spot and had to fight their way back into Serie A.

Much of their hopes next season will rely on their two gems, Tavano and Diamanti. Tavano will probably stay but Diamanti will be hard to hold on too. The 26 year old left-footed fantasista showed just how talented he was this season and many Serie A clubs seem to be interested in his services. However Diamanti is too important to the Amaranto and they will try to hang on to him for next season at least.

Highlights:

In Serie B promotion news, we already knew that Cesena and Gallipoli had achieved automatic promotion a few weeks ago. The promotion play-offs ended yesterday and Padova and Crotone will be in Serie B next year as well. Padova returns to Serie B for the first time since 1998, while Crotone are back after a 2 year absence. Tough break for Pro Patria and Benevento, the two teams that surprised everyone by even getting to the promotion final.

PRE-SEASON TRAINING

Planning a trip to Italy and don’t know where to go? Visit your favorite team’s training camp! (Although not all are in Italy). Here is the complete list of where all teams will be training:

ATALANTA —
Brentonico (Trento) from July 12 to August 2

BARI —
Val Rindanna (Bolzano) from July 11 to August 10

BOLOGNA —
Sestola (Modena) from July 11 to July 31

CAGLIARI —
Assemini (Cagliari) July 15 to August 15

CATANIA —
Assisi (Perugia) from July 14 to August 13

CHIEVO —
San Zeno di Montagna (Verona) from July 10 to July 31

FIORENTINA —
Cortina d’Ampezzo (Bolzano) from July 16-26, San Pietro a Sieve (Firenze) from July 28

GENOA —
Neustift (Austria) from July 13 to July 25

INTER —
USA from July 12 to July 27, China from August 3

JUVENTUS —
Pinzolo (Trento) from July 9 to July 21

LAZIO —
Auronzo di Cadore (Belluno) from July 10 to July 28, then China

MILAN —
Milanello (Varese) from July 6, USA from July 16 to July 27, then Germany

NAPOLI —
Enzesfeld-Lindabrunn (Austria) July 10 to July 30, then England and Canada

PALERMO —
Saint Veit (Austria) from July 9 to July 20, then July 21 to August 2 in Bad Kleinkirchheim (Austria)

PARMA —
Malles (Bolzano) from July 13 to July 31, then Salsomaggiore Terme (Parma) from August 4-12.

ROMA —
Trigoria (Roma) from June 29, then Riscone di Brunico (Bolzano) from July 2 to July 17

SAMPDORIA —
Moena Val di Fassa (Trento) from July 11 to July 31

SIENA —
Dimaro (Trento) from July 11 to August 2

UDINESE —
Montepulciano (Siena) from July 6 to July 26

And maybe there will be fans watching in the hot weather and enjoying ice cream like this kid: