When New York attorney Joe Tacopina bought down-and-out Italian soccer club Venezia in Octobꦆer 2015 and vowed to get the bankrupt fourth-divisio𓂃n side back on its feet, even he could not have imagined the success story they have written.
After winning Serie D last year, Venezia clinched Lega Pro (formerly Serie C) on Saturday, becoming the first team in 56 years to get promoted from Serie D to Serie B in two seasons. Tacopina — who represented former Yanke🀅es star Alex Rodriguez and is the former president of Serie A club Bologna — became th💃e first president in Italian soccer history to win three championships and promotions in a row.
For Tacopina, who turned 51 the day before the title, it was the𓆉 perfe✤ct gift.
“We have a very ambitious, high-reaching plan. It’s a plan that’s based on a sustainable model, the history of the people I’ve brought in. … But even I didn’t think 20 months ago when I started this, we didn’t have a player, we didn’t have an office, we𓆏 didn’t even have a [new] logo,’’ Tacopina told The Post.
“A lot of people talk [crap] at the beginning when they first take over. But when I came in and said, ‘Two years we’ll be in Serie B,’ I didn’t know when I said that the last team that had done it had been 56 years ago. I was undaunted when I said it. That was the command discipline, and we did it. But, yes, it has exceeding my expectations. I knew we had a global brand, by the name of the city, one of most glorious cities in world. But I didn’t realize how much this [would take off].”
Venezia is riding a 15-game league unbeaten streak dating back to Dec. 23. They’re 23-9-3 with three games𓄧 left for 78 points, 12 more than runner-up Parma, a former Serie A side. Reggiana, owned by former Mets star Mike Piazza, is in fifth place.
“Mike Piazza was the first to send me a congratulatory note … all class,’’ said Tacopina, who got final approval Tuesday from the municipality for his proposed mainland stadium.
Venezia hosts the home leg of the Coppa Italia Lega Pro final nex💧t Wednesday, after dropping the first leg🔯 1-0 at Matera.