We cover the latest Fiorentina news to make sure you’re always right on top of the latest happenings at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Whether you’re keeping tabs on the latest Fiorentina transfer news to see who the Viola are hoping to land next, or checking out our editorial pieces for a deeper insight into what’s going on at your club, Football Italia is the most popular English-speaking website for Italian football. To get all your Fiorentina news as it breaks straight to your mobile device, make sure you follow us on Twitter.

With such passionate Florence support behind them, there’s no wonder Fiorentina fixtures are always worth looking out for. Our match previews, predicted line-ups and in-game coverage is unrivalled, while we pick the bones of every Serie A matchday with our post-match coverage that includes reactions from players, coaches and social media. Whether you’re keeping your finger on the pulse with our liveblog or reading up about the most recent Fiorentina results, we cover every competition the Viola find themselves in, including Serie A and the Coppa Italia.

Florence is regarded as the birthplace of football in Italy, and where the name ‘calcio’ was first coined. Calcio Fiorentino was popular as long ago as the 1400s, but the English influence in the late 19th century really lit the blue touch paper - which would eventually turn purple in Florence.

Florence Football Club was founded in 1898, while 15 years later two of the local area’s most notable sporting associations established their own football teams. Club Sportivo Firenze and Palestra Ginnastica Fiorentina Libertas experienced a fierce rivalry, but then merged in 1926 to form the Associazione Fiorentina del Calcio. As such, the Fiorentina we now know was born.

It would take five years for the club to reach Serie A, while 1931 also brought the opening of the ground Fiorentina still call their home to this day, the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Given they’d adopted their iconic purple kit for the start of the 1929-30 season, the modern Fiorentina we know and love had now fully taken shape.

The Viola suffered a relegation to Serie B just before the Second World War, but returned as champions at the first time of asking and then went on to win the Coppa Italia in their first season back in the top flight. Sixteen years after lifting their first major piece of silverware, Fiorentina would claim the Scudetto for the first time.

I Gigliati’s maiden Serie A title in 1956 saw them qualify for the newly-formed European Cup for the first time. Fiorentina nearly went all the way, only losing the second running of the competition to Real Madrid in the final, who would go on to win the first five European Cups. That remains the Viola’s best finish in Europe’s top club competition to date.

Fiorentina were crowned Italian champions for a second time in 1969, but they’ve failed to win the Scudetto in the years since. There have been a total of six Coppa Italia triumphs though, with one of those leading to the Viola’s victorious UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup campaign in 1961. They’d finish as runners-up the following season, while the club also lost to Juventus in a controversial UEFA Cup final in 1990.

Away from the pitch, there have been some turbulent times for Fiorentina since their last Scudetto. From Flavio Pontello’s tumultuous reign to 2002’s relegation the year after the Viola’s most recent Coppa Italia triumph and the subsequent bankruptcy that led to the club dropping down to the fourth tier, things have rarely been dull throughout Fiorentina’s history.

The Fiorentina kit has featured the club’s iconic purple colour since 1929, giving the Florentine outfit a strip that’s instantly recognisable around the world. With such fevered support both at home and abroad, any new Fiorentina kit release is always hotly anticipated. You can find all the latest Fiorentina kit news as it drops right here. Whether you’re a fan of the classic Viola shirts of yesteryear or prefer modern takes on the iconic designs worn by some of the club’s greatest players, you’ll also be able to keep track of the new Fiorentina kit via our Twitter feed.

Fiorentina’s history is littered with world-class players who’ve been adored across the globe. From great goalkeepers such Giuliano Sarti and Francesco Toldo to record appearance maker Giancarlo Antognoni and stars of the club’s Scudetto triumphs such as Giuseppe Chiappella, Sergio Cervato, Giancarlo De Sisti, Giuseppe Brizi and Claudio Merlo, the Viola have also had more than their fair share of iconic foreigners.

That includes the likes of Julinho, Daniel Passarella, Rui Costa and Dunga, as well as record Fiorentina goalscorer Kurt Hamarin. The Swedish winger netted 208 times for the Viola between 1958 and 1967, just one more than Argentine hero Gabriel Batistuta. Those two are out on their own, with no other player reaching 100 goals for Fiorentina yet, never mind a double century.

It’s tough to look past Roberto Baggio when asking who is the best ever Fiorentina player though. Il Divin Codino - the Divine Ponytail - spent five years in Florence, where he rose to prominence as one of the world’s finest footballers. He would move to Juventus in controversial circumstances in 1990, but showed his enduring love for Fiorentina by holding a Viola scarf to his chest when returning to a baying Stadio Artemio Franchi with the Old Lady.

As well as many top-notch players, there have also been many notable Fiorentina coaches over the years. Fulvio Bernardini guided the club to their first Serie A title in 1956 and almost landed the European Cup the following year, while Bruno Pesaola led the Viola to their second Scudetto 13 years later. Giuseppe Galluzzi landed I Gigliati’s first Coppa Italia in 1940, with Roberto Mancini the most recent coach to secure the cup in 2001.

Former player Giuseppe Chiappella won the Coppa Italia twice as coach, while Mario Mazzoni and Claudio Ranieri are the other two men to have lifted the cup as Fiorentina boss. Vincenzo Italiano is the present incumbent in the hot seat, a position previously occupied by the likes of Cesare Prandelli, Vincenzo Montella, Stefano Pioli, Fatih Terim, Giovanni Trapattoni and Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Fiorentina play a couple of derbies against neighbouring sides including Empoli, with the two teams contesting the Derby Arno when they meet. Fiorentina versus Rondinella would be the true Florence derby, but there’s little doubt about who the Viola’s most hated rivals are.

Fiorentina’s rivalry with Juventus runs deep. It goes back to the controversial 1981-82 season, where Viola players and fans accused Juve of stealing the Scudetto after a string of highly contentious refereeing decisions in the run-in saw the Bianconeri claim their 20th Serie A title at Fiorentina’s expense.

Eight years later, Juventus announced they were signing Viola hero Roberto Baggio on the day of the second leg of the 1990 UEFA Cup final, a match that was moved from the Stadio Artemio Franchi to Avellino, a town with a sizeable Juve following. There’s never any love lost when these two clubs lock horns.

How many times have Fiorentina won Serie A?

Fiorentina have won Serie A on two occasions. The Viola claimed their first Scudetto in 1956 under Fulvio Bernardini, before winning the Serie A title for a second time in 1969 under Bruno Pesaola.

How many times have Fiorentina won the Coppa Italia?

Fiorentina have won the Coppa Italia six times. Their first triumph was in 1940 under Giuseppe Galluzzi. Former Viola player Giuseppe Chiappella won the Coppa Italia twice as coach, with the club’s most recent success coming under Roberto Mancini in 2001.

Who are Fiorentina’s biggest rivals?

Fiorentina’s biggest rivals are Juventus. The rivalry was solidified by the controversial end to the 1981-82 Serie A season, along with the 1990 UEFA Cup final and the transfer of Roberto Baggio from Fiorentina to Juventus.

Why are Fiorentina called La Viola?

The English translation for Viola is purple, which is the colour Fiorentina have worn since 1929. The Fiorentina kit is highly recognisable, with iconic players such as Roberto Baggio and Gabriel Batistuta making the shirt famous around the world.