The 2013–14 Serie B (known as the Serie B Eurobet for sponsorship reasons) was the 82nd season since its establishment in 1929. A total of 22 teams contested the league: 15 of which were returning from the 2012–13 season, 4 of which were promoted from Lega Pro Prima Divisione, and three relegated from Serie A.
The league features three clubs relegated from Serie A: Pescara returned after a one-year stint, Siena after two seasons, and Palermo after nine seasons.
Four teams were promoted from Lega Pro Prima Divisione, with only two certain as of May 2013: Avellino, after four seasons, and Trapani, which will make their debut in the league. On 16 June, the winners of the Lega Pro Prima Divisione play-off finals were determined as two newcomers: Carpi and Latina.
Changes from last season
Playoff format A new playoff formatCOMUNICATO UFFICIALE N. 57/A Figc.it [Italian] changes the number of playoff participants from four (third through sixth place) to a variable-size playoff including up to six teams (third through eighth place). Qualifying teams must finish the season within a "playoff margin" of 14 points from the third place team. Similar to previous seasons, if the third-place team finishes 10 or more points above the fourth place team, no playoffs will be held.
The following formats will be used for playoffs consisting of two to six teams: Two teams, single round: 3 plays 4. Three teams, two rounds: 4 plays 5 in semifinal; semifinal winner plays 3. Four teams, two rounds: 3 plays 6 and 4 plays 5 in semifinals; semifinal winners play each other. Five teams, three rounds: 6 plays 7 in opening round; 3 plays 6/7 and 4 plays 5 in semifinals; semifinal winners play each other. Six teams, three rounds: 5 plays 8 and 6 plays 7 in opening round; 3 plays 6/7 and 4 plays 5/8 in semifinals; semifinal winners play each other.
Semifinals and finals are two-legged ties, while opening round matches are single legs hosted by the higher-ranked team.
Team changes
From Serie B Promoted to Serie A Sassuolo Verona Livorno
Relegated to Lega Pro Prima Divisione Vicenza Ascoli Pro Vercelli Grosseto
To Serie B Relegated from Serie A Palermo Siena Pescara
Promoted from Lega Pro Prima Divisione (Girone A) Trapani Carpi
Promoted from Lega Pro Prima Divisione (Girone B) Avellino Latina
Teams
Stadia and locations
Team Home city Stadium Capacity 2012–13 season Avellino Avellino Partenio Prima Divisione/B Champions Bari Bari San Nicola 10th in Serie B Brescia Brescia Mario Rigamonti 6th in Serie B Carpi Carpi Sandro Cabassi Prima Divisione/A play-off winners Cesena Cesena Dino Manuzzi 14th in Serie B Cittadella Cittadella Pier Cesare Tombolato 15th in Serie B Crotone Crotone Ezio Scida 12th in Serie B Empoli Empoli Carlo Castellani 4th in Serie B Juve Stabia Castellammare di Stabia Romeo Menti 16th in Serie B Latina Latina Domenico Francioni Prima Divisione/B play-off winners Modena Modena Alberto Braglia 8th in Serie B Novara Novara Silvio Piola 5th in Serie B Padova Padova Euganeo 11th in Serie B Palermo Palermo Renzo Barbera 18th in Serie A Pescara Pescara Adriatico 20th in Serie A Reggina Reggio Calabria Oreste Granillo 17th in Serie B Siena Siena Artemio Franchi 19th in Serie A Spezia La Spezia Alberto Picco 13th in Serie B Ternana Terni Libero Liberati 9th in Serie B Trapani Trapani(playing in Erice) Provinciale Prima Divisione/A Champions Varese Varese Franco Ossola 7th in Serie B Virtus Lanciano Lanciano Guido Biondi 4,678 18th in Serie B
Personnel and kits TeamPresidentManagerKit manufacturerShirt sponsor (front)Shirt sponsor (back)Shorts sponsorAvellino Walter Taccone Massimo RastelliGivovaMetaedil.comNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiBari Gianluca Paparesta Roberto AlbertiErreàBari, Fashion District/SuisseGasNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiBrescia Gino Corioni AdidasUBI Banco di Brescia, TescomaNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiCarpi Claudio Caliumi SportikaBlumarine, CAVA InternationalNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiCesena Giorgio Lugaresi Pierpaolo BisoliErreàAldini CostruzioniNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiCittadella Andrea Gabrielli Claudio FoscariniGarmanGruppo Gabrielli (H)/Gavinox (A), MetalserviceNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiCrotone Raffaele Vrenna Massimo DragoZeusV&V GroupNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiEmpoli Fabrizio Corsi Maurizio SarriRoyalNGM Mobile, Computer GrossNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiJuve Stabia Francesco Manniello Piero BragliaFly LineAbarth Tales, MarigoNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiLatina Paola Cavicchi Roberto BredaGivovaBricofer, Recoma GroupNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiModena Angelo Forcina Walter NovellinoErreàCPL Concordia, CoopGasNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiNovara Carlo Accornero Alfredo AgliettiJomaBanca Popolare di Novara, Comoli FerrariNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiPadova Diego Penocchio Michele SerenaJomaFamila, Birra AntonianiNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiPalermo Maurizio Zamparini Giuseppe IachiniPumapalermocalcio.it, Supermercato SigmaNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiPescara Daniele Sebastiani Serse CosmiErreàAcqua & Sapone, Officina Meccanica AngelucciNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiReggina Giuseppe Ranieri Franco Gagliardi & Diego ZaninLottoCiao Telecom, Stocco & StoccoNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiSiena Massimo Mezzaroma Mario BerettaKappaNoneNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiSpezia Lamberto Tacoli Devis MangiaLottoCarispeziaNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiTernana Edoardo Longarini Attilio TesserMacronFamily Banker OfficeNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiTrapani Vittorio Morace Roberto BoscagliaMacronUstica Lines, Regione Sicilia-Comune di TrapaniNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiVarese Nicola Laurenza Stefano BettinelliZeusOro in Euro, R.investNGM MobileCAME Cancelli AutomaticiVirtus Lanciano Valentina Maio Marco BaroniLegeaGruppo Maio, wemblegg.comNGM MobileCAME Cancelli Automatici
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Replaced by Date of appointment Bari Mutual consent Pre Season Brescia Carpi End of contract Latina Padova Mutual consent Palermo Pescara End of caretaker spell Reggina End of contract Siena Spezia Varese Virtus Lanciano Mutual consent Bari Resigned Latina Sacked 22nd Palermo 9th Brescia Mutual consent 10th Padova Sacked 20th Brescia End of caretaker spell 15th Reggina Sacked 20th Novara 18th Juve Stabia 22nd Varese 10th Reggina 20th Spezia 9th Ternana 18th Reggina 21st Padova 20th Novara 18th Juve Stabia 22nd Pescara 13th Brescia 13th Varese 15th Carpi 12th Varese17 May 201418thStefano Bettinelli19 May 2014
League table
When rumors about Siena's probable collapse arrived to the FIGC in May, the Federation decided to seize the opportunity to reduce the league. However, Novara appealed the decision in June. When the CONI agreed with the Piedmontese club, the angry FIGC decided to choose a Lega Pro team instead of Novara.
Play-offs
Promotion play-offs Starting from this season, six teams played in the promotion playoffs instead of four. A preliminary one-legged round, played at the home venue of the best placed one, involved the teams from 5th to 8th place. The two winning teams then play against 3rd of 4th-placed teams in a two-legged semifinal. The higher placed team plays the second leg of the promotion playoff at home. If scores are tied after both games in the semifinals the higher placed team progresses to the final. The same conditions apply to the final except for there being extra time played if scores are tied after both games, the higher placed team will be promoted if scores are still level at the end of this period.
Relegation play-out In case of an aggregate tie, the best placed team wins.
Results
Top goalscorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Matteo MancosuTrapani262 Francesco TavanoEmpoli233 Leonardo Pavoletti1Varese224 Khouma BabacarModena 205 Andrea CaraccioloBrescia19 Mirco AntenucciTernana7 Jonathas2Latina15 Andrey GalabinovAvellino9 Massimo MaccaroneEmpoli 14 Abel HernándezPalermo - includes 2 goals in the play-offs. - includes 1 goal in the play-offs.
Attendances
# Club Average 1 Bari 11,569 2 Palermo 11,129 3 Cesena 10,724 4 Pescara 8,739 5 Avellino 8,000 6 Spezia 6,134 7 Siena 5,984 8 Padova 5,690 9 Latina 5,352 10 Ternana 5,352 11 Trapani 5,179 12 Modena 5,116 13 Novara 5,069 14 Crotone 4,590 15 Empoli 4,421 16 Reggina 4,324 17 Brescia 4,233 18 Varese 3,539 19 Virtus Lanciano 3,083 20 Cittadella 2,598 21 Carpi 2,420 22 Juve Stabia 2,390Source:
References