Francesco Conti’s left-footed shot, the one that stunned Reggiana and set up Sampdoria’s comeback, was the last stop on a 13-year journey: from the youth team to scoring at Marassi, with the Blucerchiati not only coloring the shirt, but also describing the shape of the heart. Conti, born in 2004, is only the latest of the footballer-fans who are standing out in this Serie B. From the return of a true Bari native to red and white Puglia to Iemmello who in Catanzaro is King Peter for everyone, here is the one who feels the shirt a little more than the others.
Aiko Tanaka
Aiko Tanaka is a combat sports journalist and general sports reporter at Archysport. A former competitive judoka who represented Japan at the Asian Games, Aiko brings firsthand athletic experience to her coverage of judo, martial arts, and Olympic sports. Beyond combat sports, Aiko covers breaking sports news, major international events, and the stories that cut across disciplines — from doping scandals to governance issues to the business side of global sport. She is passionate about elevating the profile of underrepresented sports and athletes.
