In a world where superstition and sport often cross paths, few stories rival that of Italy’s modest football club, US Avellino. Nestled in the Campania region near Naples, this club has become an unexpected barometer of papal transitions—climbing the football hierarchy whenever a pope dies or resigns.

Forget coffee grounds or crystal balls—those seeking clues about the future pontiff might do better scanning the Serie B standings in La Gazzetta dello Sport. As bizarre as it may sound, the history of US Avellino seems mysteriously entangled with the fates of the successors of Saint Peter.

Papal Deaths and Football Miracles

The story begins in 1958 with the death of Pope Pius XII. At the time, Avellino was competing in the Interregional Championship, a precursor to Serie D. Despite finishing only third in their group—a position usually insufficient for promotion—the club was unexpectedly granted a place in Serie C, thanks to a rule ensuring regional representation. And thus began a curious tradition.

In 1963, Avellino won promotion again, shortly before the passing of Pope John XXIII. Over the following decades, the club became a familiar sight in Italy’s middle football tiers. Yet it was 1978 that marked the golden era of the “Biancoverdi.” That year, the team secured its first-ever promotion to Serie A—coinciding with the deaths of two popes, Paul VI and John Paul I. For Avellino fans, the link was more than coincidence; it felt like divine timing.

A Long Papacy, A Long Wait

John Paul II’s lengthy tenure on the papal throne slowed down the club’s celestial rhythm. After relegation to Serie B in 1988 and then to Serie C in 1992, Avellino languished in obscurity throughout the 1990s. But the early 2000s brought renewed hope. In 2005—the year John Paul II passed away—Avellino secured a return to Serie B after finishing second in Serie C.

The Blessing of Pope Francis

Financial troubles struck again in 2009, sending the club down to Serie D. But Avellino rose once more, climbing back to Serie C in 2011 and topping their group in 2013—the very year Pope Benedict XVI resigned and Pope Francis was elected. A coincidence? Perhaps. But believers in the club’s curious fate took note.

And now, in 2025, history has repeated itself. Pope Francis passed away this Monday at the age of 88. Meanwhile, US Avellino has already clinched the top spot in Serie C Group C, ensuring their return to Serie B. The timing couldn’t be more uncanny.

Adding to the mystique, the club paid tribute to the late pontiff with a post on X (formerly Twitter), sharing a photo of Pope Francis blessing and signing an Avellino jersey just months before his death. “A few months ago, the pope blessed and signed our shirt,” the caption read—a solemn reminder of the bond between the club’s fate and the Vatican’s transitions.

A Divine Pattern or Just Chance?

Whether one sees the pattern as divine intervention, poetic coincidence, or simply a statistical fluke, there’s no denying the allure of Avellino’s tale. In a football world obsessed with data, this spiritual subplot offers a refreshing reminder: sometimes, the beautiful game dances to forces beyond our understanding.

As cardinals gather in Rome to elect the next pope, fans of US Avellino might be watching with mixed emotions—mourning a beloved pontiff, yes, but also daring to dream of yet another heavenly promotion.