Paganese Calcio 1926 isn’t just a football club — and if you ask the people at the heart of it, they’ll tell you exactly that. As they put it, “Paganese is much more than just a football team — it’s a symbol of identity for the entire town of Pagani. It’s a club built on passion, sacrifice, and a deep sense of belonging. Even in difficult times, people never stop believing.”
That sentiment flows through everything here. The community, the colours, the stadium, even the way people greet you on the streets.
Inside the Marcello Torre: Where Emotion Lives
Ask anyone in the club what makes Paganese special and you’ll get a smile first, then an answer filled with feeling. “It’s something you feel in your bones,” they say. “The Marcello Torre Stadium is full of history and emotion — the moment you step inside, you feel the energy.”
And they aren’t exaggerating. The blue-and-white choreography, the drums, the chants, the kids on their parents’ shoulders — it’s raw, warm, and strangely intimate. “It all creates a family atmosphere, yet full of intensity. It’s football lived straight from the heart.”
The club talks about their supporters with real affection: “The fans are the soul of Paganese. Without them, the club simply wouldn’t be the same. They follow the team everywhere — through every league, every match — and their passion drives the players to give their all.” You believe them instantly. Because here in Pagani, that connection isn’t marketing — it’s the truth.
A Club With Stories Etched Across Generations
Founded in 1926, Paganese have lived the full arc of Italian lower-league football: triumphs, heartbreaks, rebirths, and the constant push for more.
They even ventured into the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1978, picking up a single victory and three defeats — a quirky, charming footnote in the club’s long narrative.
The 2000s brought fire again. Paganese won Serie D/H in 2005–06, earned promotion to Serie C2, and then went straight up again to Serie C1, beating SPAL and Reggiana in the play-offs. That 2007 season was their first in the division since 1979 — a moment of pure pride in the blue-and-white world.
Relegation in 2011 stung, but — in true Paganese fashion — they came straight back up the following season after beating Chieti in the play-offs. Resilience isn’t a strong enough word.
Today, the club plays in Serie D, with a squad built on local talent, loanees, passion, and the responsibility of representing a community that expects heart above all else. From Mario Pinestro in goal to forwards like Leonardo Trezza, Antonio Orefice, Carmine Iannone, and the rest of the team, the squad carries the weight of a near-century of devotion.
And this year, as the club put it, “It’s an incredible milestone… a moment of pride and renewal — a time to look to the future with enthusiasm, without forgetting where it all began.”
Pagani: Ancient Roots, Modern Warmth
To understand Paganese, you have to understand Pagani — a town with layers of history and a soul full of warmth.
Once part of ancient Nuceria, Pagani has seen everything: Roman alliances, Samnite rebellions, sieges, Hannibal’s devastation, Spartacus’ raids, medieval transformations, and even a Saracen community in the 9th century. The town eventually evolved into what became Nuceria Paganorum, tied to the noble Pagano family.
It’s a place shaped by resilience — no surprise the football club is too.
Today, Pagani is lively, welcoming, and full of character. As the club told us, “Pagani is a welcoming, lively town full of tradition and warmth… When you visit Pagani, you immediately feel at home.” And they’re right.
Faith, Ritual and Pagani
The town is home to some of Campania’s most cherished religious sites, including the Shrine of Our Lady of the Hens (Madonna delle Galline). During the annual festival, the streets become alive with people dancing the tammurriata — an ancient Campanian tradition that feels half prayer, half celebration.
It’s chaotic, warm, human — very Pagani. And very Paganese.
Then comes match day. The smell of espresso, voices in dialect, flags everywhere. It’s the kind of atmosphere that Italian football romantics dream of.
The Stadio Marcello Torre, with its 6,000 seats, holds far more emotion than capacity. The club summed it up perfectly: “If you’re here on a match day, you’ll truly understand what Paganese passion means.”
And you do. Instantly.
A Centenary That Belongs to the People
One hundred years of football carries weight — but here, it carries heart. This centenary isn’t a museum-piece celebration. It’s a living, breathing tribute to the families, the ultras, the players, the volunteers, the children who’ve grown up with blue and white stitched into their weekends.
The club said it best: “The centenary is not only a celebration of football, but also of the whole community that made this journey possible.”
In Pagani, Paganese isn’t a club you follow.
It’s a club you feel.
