Centro Storico Lebowski — They Sang Anyway

Centro Storico Lebowski, supporter ownership, Italian lower-league football and one of Europe’s most unusual fan-built clubs are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.

Chris Horwedel tells the story of a group of teenagers in Florence who went looking for the worst team in the city, arrived late, watched it lose 3–0 and started singing anyway. What began as an almost absurd act of support eventually became something much bigger: when the original A.C. Lebowski disappeared, the supporters founded Centro Storico Lebowski themselves in 2010.

The episode follows the club’s climb through Italy’s amateur pyramid, its transition into a cooperative where members have an equal vote, and the growth of youth, girls’ and women’s football programs built around accessibility and community.

There’s also the wonderfully unlikely arrival of former Fiorentina and Inter midfielder Borja Valero, a 2,500-person regional cup final and the long search for a home of their own in Florence.

Centro Storico Lebowski’s story proves that calling something “our club” can mean more than simply supporting it. Sometimes it means actually building it. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.

If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.

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