Italian Football League

Italian Football League (IFL) is the top level American football league in Italy established in 1980. The top tier teams final game to determine the league champion is called the Italian Bowl.

Not to be confused with Italian football league system.
Italian Football League
SportAmerican football
Founded1980
CEOEnrico Mambelli[1][2]
No. of teamsMax 12
Country Italy
Most recent
champion(s)		Firenze Guelfi
Official websitewww.fidaf.com

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

In the 1970's teams formed and played in Italy. In 1980 the first official American football league in Italy was established and crowned a champion. The Italian league (Series A) in the late 1970's and early 1980's, 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 1980's and early 1990's with reported attendance of nearly 30,000 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).

Palermo Sharks in 2008

The new IFL was founded in 2008, 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 Federazione Italiana di American Football (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 Bowl league championships winning 12 finals.

On Saturday, July 1, 2023, Italian Bowl XLII will be played at the Glass Bowl Stadium on the campus of The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA. This will mark the first Italian Football League Championship held outside of Europe.

IFL teams
Rhinos Milano vs. Catania Elephants in 2008 at Velodromo Vigorelli, Milan
  • Ancona Dolphins (2008–present)
  • Bergamo Lions (2008–10, 2012, 2014–2019) (2023-present)
  • 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)
  • Ferrara Aquile (2014–present)
  • Firenze Guelfi (2016–present)
  • Lazio Marines (2009–present)
  • Legnano Frogs (2023–present)
  • Martesana Daemons (2012) (now in II Division)
  • Milano Rhinos (2008–2018, 2020–present)
  • Milano Seamen (2011–present)
  • Napoli Briganti (2014–present)
  • 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)
  • Torino Giaguari (2014–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[3]

Italian Bowl

Italian Bowl is the game that awards the scudetto. Until 2014 the championship game was called Italian Super Bowl

XXXIV Italian Bowl, won by Milano Seamen vs. Parma Panthers in 2014.
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.
GameYearWinnerOpponentResultLocation
I 1981 Rhinos MilanoFrogs Gallarate24–8 Stadio Eugenio Broccardi, Santa Margherita Ligure
II 1982 Rhinos MilanoFrogs Gallarate11–0 Stadio Tonino Benelli, Pesaro
III 1983 Rhinos MilanoWarriors Bologna20–14 Palasport di Genova, Genoa
IV 1984 Frogs Busto ArsizioWarriors Bologna16–6 Stadio Romeo Neri, Rimini
V 1985 Doves BolognaAngels Pesaro27–11 Stadio Silvio Appiani, Padova
VI 1986 Warriors BolognaAngels Pesaro18–8 Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, Bologna
VII 1987 Frogs LegnanoMilano Seamen27–24 Stadio Romeo Neri, Rimini
VIII 1988 Frogs LegnanoWarriors Bologna17–0 Stadio Dorico, Ancona
IX 1989 Frogs LegnanoMilano Seamen39–33 Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma
X 1990 Rhinos MilanoFrogs Legnano33–6 Stadio Romeo Neri, Rimini
XI 1991 Giaguari TorinoPhoenix San Lazzaro38–16 Stadio Brianteo, Monza
XII 1992 Pharaones MilanoLions Bergamo35–25 Stadio Druso, Bolzano
XIII 1993 Lions BergamoGladiatori Roma48–39 Stadio Comunale, Telgate
XIV 1994 Frogs LegnanoRhinos Milano37–27 Stadio Giovanni Mari, Legnano
XV 1995 Frogs LegnanoGladiatori Roma32–26 Stadio Alfiero Moretti, Cesenatico
XVI 1996 Phoenix BolognaGladiatori Roma25–20 Stadio Dorico, Ancona
XVII 1997 Phoenix BolognaFrogs Legnano42–35 Stadio Brianteo, Monza
XVIII 1998 Lions BergamoFrogs Legnano29–28 Stadio Santa Maria Goretti, Catania
XIX 1999 Lions BergamoGiants Bolzano49–14 Stadio Europa, Bolzano
XX 2000 Lions BergamoGiants Bolzano49–27 Velodromo Vigorelli, Milan
XXI 2001 Lions BergamoDolphins Ancona30–24 Stadio Europa, Bolzano
XXII 2002 Lions BergamoDolphins Ancona21–14 Stadio Europa, Bolzano
XXIII 2003 Lions BergamoDolphins Ancona45–0 Polisportivo Comunale, Civitanova Marche
XXIV 2004 Lions BergamoDolphins Ancona14–13 Stadio Andrea Torelli, Scandiano
XXV 2005 Lions BergamoWarriors Bologna42–14 Stadio Andrea Torelli, Scandiano
XXVI 2006 Lions BergamoPanthers Parma24–12 Stadio Andrea Torelli, Scandiano
XXVII 2007 Lions BergamoPanthers Parma55–49 (2 OT) Stadio Andrea Torelli, Scandiano
XXVIII 2008 Lions BergamoGiants Bolzano56–54 Stadio Comunale, San Giovanni in Marignano
XXIX 2009 Giants BolzanoMarines Lazio35–21 Stadio Dei Pini, Milano Marittima
XXX 2010 Panthers ParmaElephants Catania56–26 Stadio Breda, Sesto San Giovanni
XXXI 2011 Panthers ParmaWarriors Bologna76–62 Stadio XXV Aprile, Parma
XXXII 2012 Panthers ParmaElephants Catania61–43 Stadio Franco Ossola, Varese
XXXIII 2013 Panthers ParmaMilano Seamen51–28 Stadio Paolo Mazza, Ferrara
XXXIV 2014 Milano SeamenPanthers Parma33–30 Stadio Paolo Mazza, Ferrara
XXXV 2015 Milano SeamenPanthers Parma24–14 Velodromo Vigorelli, Milan
XXXVI 2016 Rhinos MilanoGiants Bolzano44–18 Stadio Dino Manuzzi, Cesena
XXXVII 2017 Milano SeamenRhinos Milano37–29 Stadio Romeo Menti, Vicenza
XXXVIII 2018 Milano SeamenGiants Bolzano28–14 Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
XXXIX 2019 Milano SeamenFirenze Guelfi62–28 Stadio Breda, Sesto San Giovanni
- 2020 No season played because of the COVID-19 pandemic
XL 2021 Panthers ParmaMilano Seamen40–34 (OT) Stadio Leonardo Garilli, Piacenza
XLI 2022 Firenze GuelfiMilano Seamen21–17 Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, Bologna

MVP Italian Bowl

Until 2014 the championship game was called Superbowl italiano.

Notable Players & Coaches
  • Gill Fenerty, 1986 Bolzano Jets running back, Later played in the CFL and then NFL.
  • Tyrone Rush, 1998-2004 Bergamo Lions running back, played in NFL. IFL MVP 1999.
  • Brock Olivo, 2003-2004 Lazio Marines running back, played in NFL.
  • George Paton (American football executive), 1992 Milano defensive back, Current GM of the Denver Broncos.
  • Bradlee Van Pelt, 2009-2010 Bergamo Lions quarterback, Played in NFL.
  • Bob Frasco, 1987-1989 Legnano Frogs, 1991 Phoenix San Lazzaro, 1994-95 Bergamo Lions quarterback, Played in NFL. IFL Hall of Fame inductee.
  • Reggie Greene, 2000-2011 Bolzano Giants running back, 4 time IFL MVP, all time leading rusher and IFL Hall of Fame inductee.
  • Scott Lockwood, 1994-96 Bergamo Lions running back, played in NFL.
  • Kris Durham, 2017-2018 Parma Panthers wide receiver, played in NFL.
  • Art Briles, 2018, 2022 - present head coach Firenze Guelfi.
  • Chris Ault, 2016-2017 Milano Rhinos head coach.
  • Mario Russo, 1990's head coach won two IFL championships.
  • John Rosenberg (American football) 2005-2006 Bergamo Lions head coach.
  • Sam Pagano, 1994-96, 2001-2002 Bergamo Lions head coach.
  • Bobby Davis, 1988-1997 running back, wide receiver. All around player considered an all time great in the IFL.
  • Ronald Barber, Quarterback for Condor Grosseto 1989-1990, Pythons Milano 1991, Phoenix San Lazzaro 1992 -1995. From-CAL STATE FULLERTON
  • Ricky Bynum, 1983-88 Milano Rhinos running back.
  • John Knight, 1988-1995 Bologna Doves, Ravenna Chiefs linebacker. Arizona State
  • Mike Wyatt, 1990-1994 Ferrara Eagles head coach.
  • Collin DiGablo, 2020-2023 Ancona Dolphins Quarterback. Twin brother of the famous, division 2 national champion Christian Digablo. Collin was given the nickname “the system” after locals noticed his quarterback play. His coach put him in great situations for the team to win games.

References
  1. Archived 2015-02-12 at the Wayback Machine https://web.archive.org/web/20150315023625/http://www.ifleague.it/news/2757-enrico-mambelli-presidente
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 12, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "I Grizzlies sbranano gli Elephants - Sport Locale - iltempo". Archived from the original on 2014-10-28. Retrieved 2014-10-28.


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