A.C. ChievoVerona contested its first ever Serie A campaign in the 2001–02 season. The club was widely expected to be relegated immediately to Serie B following a surprising promotion in 2001. Coach Luigi Delneri played a 4–4–2 formation with extremely offensive wingers in the shape of Eriberto and Christian Manfredini. The entire team surpassed expectations and for six weeks during the autumn Chievo lead serie A.