Kelly Ripa and her husband Mark Consuelos bought an ownership interest in Italian soccer club ASD Campobasso 1919. The duo became the latest Hollywood group to invest in a foreign soccer team.
The Italian club currently competes in the Eccelenza, the fifth level of the country’s soccer pyramid. Campobasso played in Italy’s third division, Serie C, last season. However, financial irregularities by the previous owner made the club ineligible. Campobasso was also denied entry to fourth-tier Serie D for the current campaign.
Now the club must essentially restart. Despite this, Campobasso signed former Serie C and Serie D players ahead of the 2022/23 campaign. Campobasso currently runs the Eccellenza, the fifth division of Italian football.
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos saw opportunity with Italian soccer club
“The Campobasso project is the quintessential homeless story,” Consuelos told Sportico. “When I heard the story that these fans were at risk of losing the sport they love, Kelly and I wanted to get involved and be part of the solution. This is a story of redemption, rebirth and hope that will unfold on the football pitches of Italy, and we are truly proud to play a role as co-owners.”
Despite her enthusiasm, Consuelos admitted that she had never heard of the club before. “I literally had to Google it on the map to find out where it is,” Conseulos said. Investment group president Matt Rizetta approached the actor before the start of the season.
Campobasso was founded in 1919 and previously played five consecutive seasons in Serie B in the 1980s. The highest the club has finished in the Italian leagues is seventh in the second-tier Serie B. Based some 90 miles northeast of Naples, Campobasso’s most famous victory came against Juventus in the Coppa Italia competition.
Consuelos has high hopes for the future with her new club. “Things are looking very good,” Consuelos said. “I don’t want to curse him. Everyone freaks out when I start saying this within the group, but we’re going to be promoted to the fourth division. East [is] my first foray into football, and my team will be promoted.”
PHOTO: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire
