By securing a third successive promotion, Parma returned to Italy’s Serie A on Friday, after being dumped into the fourth division in the aftermath of a series of financial crises which led to bankruptcy. Parma got second place behind Empoli in Serie B after a 2-0 win at Spezia while rivals Frosinone could only draw 2-2 against Foggia. In the 1990s, Parma were among the top sides in Italy and Europe winning the UEFA Cup in 1995 and 1999 and Cup Winners’ Cup in 1993.
However, success came at a cost with the club pushed back to Serie D in 2015 after going bust before they clawed their way back up the divisions. With Empoli and Parma securing automatic promotion, a third place in Serie A will be decided by a series of play-offs between Frosinone, Palermo, Venezia, Bari, Citadella and Perugia.