ACF Fiorentina - more commonly known as Fiorentina - is an Italian professional football club based in Florence, Tuscany and currently playing in the country's top tier Serie A. Fiorentina plays home games at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Founded in August 1926 as Associazione Calcio Fiorentina, the club was initially created as a merger of CS Firenze and PG Libertas initiated by National Fascist Party member Luigi Ridolfi. During the 1920s and 1930s, there was a cultural reawakening for Calcio Fiorentina (a precursor of modern football enjoyed by members of the famous Medici family) and this benefited the new club by drawing interest to it. In the 1955-56 season, Fiorentina won their first Italian championship (scudetto), and this was followed by a second in 1968-69; however, they have not won one since despite wins in the Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, and UEFA Cup winners.
Sadly, after a period of consistent strength and reasonable success, the club's dire financial situation was revealed in 2001 and they were declared bankrupt and effectively ceased to exist. However, in 2002, the club was re-established as Associazione Calico Fiorentina e Florentia Viola and admitted to the fourth tier, Serie C2. From here, they climbed their way back to the top league!
