The world of soccer is often full of superstitions and coincidences, but few are as striking as the one surrounding Avellino, a modest Italian club that, for more than six decades, seems to be linked to the fate of the Vatican. The peculiarity is as unbelievable as it is constant: every time a Pope dies or resigns, the club is promoted.
This weekend, the legend was fueled again, as just before the death of Pope Francis, Avellino achieved mathematical promotion to Serie B by defeating Sorrento 2-1 on Saturday, April 19.
With that victory, the team consolidated as the leader of Group C with 72 points, eight ahead of Audace Cerignola, its closest pursuer, and will play in the second tier of Italian soccer next season.
A chain of coincidences dating back to the mid-20th century
The institution, founded in 1912 and based in Avellino, Campania, has carried this strange relationship since 1958. It all began with the death of Pope Pius XII, the same year it rose from the fourth division to Serie C. Five years later, in 1963, John XXIII died, and the Wolves returned to Serie C, repeating the pattern.
