Udinese 2012/2013 Third Shirt

UDINESE - THIRD SHIRT 2012/2013

Udinese Calcio, founded in 1896, are a professional football club from Udine in the Friuli region of north-eastern Italy. Affectionately known as Le Zebrette ("The Little Zebras") or the Bianconeri (The Black and Whites), they have called the Stadio Friuli home since 1976. The Pozzo family, owners since 1986, are widely credited with pioneering the modern small-club scouting model that has seen Udinese punch above their financial weight for decades.

The 2012/2013 campaign, in which this smart third shirt was worn, was Francesco Guidolin's third season in charge after taking Udinese to 3rd in Serie A in the previous campaign. The follow-up began with disappointment: a Champions League play-off elimination to Braga on penalties after two 1-1 draws, dropping the club into the Europa League. The group stage produced one famous result - a 3-2 win at Anfield against Liverpool - but the Bianconeri finished last in the section behind Liverpool, Young Boys, and Anzhi Makhachkala, ending their European run. The Coppa Italia exit came in their opening tie, a 2-1 defeat to Fiorentina.

In Serie A, Udinese recovered to finish 5th on 66 points (W18 D12 L8), enough for a return to Europa League qualification the following season. Juventus retained the Scudetto with a then record 87-point haul.

Udinese's standout player was the irreplaceable Antonio Di Natale. At 35, the Udinese captain finished as Serie A's top Italian scorer with 23 league goals - becoming the first player since Fiorentina's Gabriel Batistuta to register 20 or more goals in four or more consecutive Serie A seasons. It was a personal record that defined Di Natale's late-career renaissance under Guidolin, and underlined just how much Udinese leaned on the veteran.

Follow the club on X: @Udinese_1896