Italian Football League

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.

Background

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.Massimo Foglio, L'Europa lunga un piede, p. 14 - ISBN 1-4810-2028-5

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.Massimo Foglio, L'Europa lunga un piede, p. 67 - ISBN 1-4810-2028-5 The trophy, called the "Bambino Bowl", was won by the Technical School 13–0 in front of an audience of 5,000.Bambino Bowl

A little over a month later, the Spaghetti BowlMassimo Foglio, L'Europa lunga un piede, p. 69 - ISBN 1-4810-2028-5 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.Spaghetti Bowl 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).TRUST Football

History

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 .

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.

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

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. 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).

The new IFL was founded in 2007, taking over previous league's significance called (National Football League Italy). 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 (the federation the IFL belongs to) 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

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–present) Firenze Guelfi (2016–present) Lazio Marines (2018–present) Legnano Frogs (2023–present) Martesana Daemons (2012) (now in II Division) Mastini Verona (2022–2023) Milano Football Team (2027–present) Milano Rhinos (2008–2018, 2020–2026 †) Milano Seamen (2011–2026 †) 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 Briganti 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

Italian Bowl 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. Until 2014 the championship game was called Italian Super Bowl.

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, Padua 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, LegnanoXV 1995 Frogs Legnano Gladiatori Roma 32–26 Stadio Alfiero Moretti, CesenaticoXVI 1996 Phoenix Bologna Gladiatori Roma 25–20 Stadio Dorico, Ancona XVII 1997 Phoenix Bologna Frogs Legnano 42–35 Stadio Brianteo, MonzaXVIII 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 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 33–3 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 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 XLV 2026 Firenze Guelfi Panthers Parma 53–43 Stadio Paolo Mazza, Ferrara

Number of Italian Bowl victories

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

Italian Football League

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