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Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Genoa or the abbreviation Genoa CFC, is a professional football club based in the city of Genoa in Italy. Although the athletics and cricket club was founded in 1893 by Englishmen; the footballing section of the club was opened in 1897 by James Richardson Spensley making it the oldest of its kind still active in Italy.

The 1950s started in poor fashion for the club, they had bought Argentine Mario Boyι from Boca Juniors but he stayed only one season and the club were relegated after finishing bottom of the table, but after two seasons they achieved their return after winning Serie B, ahead of Legnano. Ragnar Nikolay Larsen was a noted player for the club during this period and they sustained mid-table finishes for the rest of the decade. Despite suffering a relegation in 195960 and then a promotion back up to Serie A in 196162

Genoa won the Coppa delle Alpi in 1962 and again in 1964. In 1964, the final was held at the Wankdorf Stadium in Berne, Switzerland; Genoa defeated Catania 20, with both goals from Giampaolo Piaceri to take the trophy.

Throughout the 1970s, Genoa would play the role of a yo-yo club, bouncing up and down between divisions. Under the management of Arturo Silvestri the club made its way back to Serie A for the 197374 season, but they were relegated straight back down. For the return of Il Grifone to Serie A a couple of seasons later, the squad featured the likes of Roberto Rosato, Bruno Conti and a young Roberto Pruzzo (pictured)
Roberto Pruzzo was born at Crocefieschi, in the province of Genoa, Pruzzo made his debut in professional football for Genoa C.F.C. in 1973. There he remained for six season, scoring 57 goals in 143 matches.