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. In the end the form dropped off a bit, but Chievo almost qualified for the UEFA Champions League, and thus failed to achieve that sensation. Its players became seriously attractive on the market, but only Manfredini and target man Bernardo Corradi actually left the club, both joining Lazio prior to the 2002–03 season.