Como fan anthem becomes official club shirt in fairytale season
The remarkable rise of Como 1907 has been marked by the club officially adopting a fan anthem, turning a local folk song into an official piece of club merchandise. The Serie A newcomers have released a commemorative shirt featuring the lyrics of "Pulènta e Galèna Frègia," a song by lifelong supporter and celebrated Italian singer-songwriter Davide Van de Sfroos. The move, confirmed by the club, symbolises the deep local roots fueling the club's unexpected push for European qualification.
The song, written in the local Lombard dialect, was originally released by Van de Sfroos in 1999 but was adopted organically by the Como ultras years later. According to the artist, the club's hierarchy approached him last year to record a more energetic version for stadium use, recognising its power as a symbol of Larian identity. The new shirt represents the latest step in formalising that bond between the team and its community during a season that has far exceeded expectations.
Van de Sfroos, a Como native, expressed his awe at the club's trajectory in an interview, stating that seeing the team in contention for a Champions League place would have been unthinkable even a few years ago. He credited the club's ownership, led by Indonesian businessman Dennis Wise, and head coach Cesc Fabregas for the transformation. He specifically praised Fabregas's principled approach and sportsmanship, which he feels stands out in the modern game.
The context of this cultural celebration is Como's astonishing on-field performance. Promoted to Serie A last season, the team coached by the former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Fabregas has consistently challenged at the top end of the table. With four matches remaining, the club sits in seventh place, just outside the European qualification spots, in what has been a historic campaign for the small, lakeside city.
Van de Sfroos highlighted the contributions of key players in the squad's success, naming midfielder Nico Paz, as well as attackers Martin Baturina and Gabriel Da Cunha, as crucial figures. He described Baturina's development as a continuous rise and noted Da Cunha's knack for scoring important goals. However, he tempered expectations regarding a potential Champions League leap, suggesting the club might benefit from a more gradual progression into European competition to build a solid foundation.
The creation of the official shirt underscores a strategic effort by the foreign ownership to embrace and amplify the club's local culture, a move Van de Sfroos described as demonstrating a "long and deep" vision. As Como prepares for a crucial final run of fixtures, starting with a match against Genoa, the anthem and its new physical manifestation serve as a reminder of the unique fan culture that has become intertwined with the team's sporting success.
