Lake Como is where A-listers hang out and Friday was no different as Como 1907 secured a fairytale return to Serie A.
The Italian minnows, who were playing in Serie D just five years ago, earned promotion to the top flight with a 1-1 draw with Cosenza on the final day of the Serie B season.
Joining Parma in earning automatic promotion to the top flight, Como had a number of household names in attendance for their memorable celebrations.
Cesc Fabregas is heavily involved with the Italian side and works as assistant coach, while also being a shareholder in the club along with Thierry Henry.
Henry was in attendance for the clash and was beaming with delight as he saw the Italian side secure their spot in the top flight.
Chelsea legend Dennis Wise, who works as an adviser to the Como board, was also in attendance.
Osian Roberts – former assistant to Wales boss Chris Coleman and Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira – is the club’s head of development and caretaker boss, inspiring the club to success alongside Fabregas.
Also in attendance was Leicester’s Jamie Vardy who was invited to Como’s last game of the season in a video call with Wise during the Foxes’ own promotion celebrations.
Now, the small club based in Lake Como, will be rubbing shoulders with Italian football’s elite.
The journey to Serie A has not be straightforward with the Italian side previously on the cusp of extinction.
Riddled by bankruptcy and multiple relegations, Como were taken over by kosua Puni Essien – the wife of ex-Chelsea star Michael Essien – in 2017 before being admitted to Serie D for the 2017/18 campaign under their new name, Como 1907.
Promoted from Serie D in 2019, Como 1907 turned professional that year before winning Serie C in 2021.
Spending two seasons in Serie B, Como consolidated their position with a 13th-place finish in 2023, before securing the most spectacular promotion to the top flight where they’ll play for the first time since 2003.