Interactive Sport

Infographic: The Miracle of Como 1907

In just seven years, Como 1907 — a 119-year-old club from the shores of Lake Como — completed one of the most remarkable ascents in European football history, r

Akhyari Hananto

May 28, 2026 9:29 AM GMT+7

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Data Sources

Wikipedia, Football Italia, Transfermarkt, Flashscore, Fortune

In just seven years, Como 1907 — a 119-year-old club from the shores of Lake Como — completed one of the most remarkable ascents in European football history, rising from the bankruptcy and obscurity of Serie D in 2017 to Champions League qualification in May 2026. The transformation was engineered by Indonesia's wealthiest family, the Hartono brothers, who acquired the club through their Djarum Group for a mere ~€850,000 in 2019 and poured resources into a luxury-tourism branding strategy that exploded merchandise revenue from €90,000 to €35 million. Under former Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fàbregas, appointed head coach in 2024, Como overachieved spectacularly — finishing 4th in Serie A with 71 points on the final day despite having only the 11th-highest wage bill, spending €107.45m on transfers including standout Nico Paz, whose 12 goals and 6 assists earned him Serie A's Best Midfielder award before Real Madrid triggered his buy-back clause. The 4-1 final-day victory at Cremonese, coupled with Milan's shock home defeat to Cagliari, sealed a place in the Champions League for the first time ever, capping a story that began in a footballing pawnshop and ended among Europe's elite.

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