Written by Mark Strange.
Founded: 1949
Major Honours: 23
European Ties (Won): 11 (2)
Stadium: Stadio di Fiorentino (San Marino Stadium for UEFA matches)
Manager: Danilo Girolomoni
Captain: Matteo Prandelli
Larne will face opposition from San Marino for the first time when they take on Tre Fiori in the First Qualifying Round of the Champions League. Societa Polisportiva Tre Fiori, to give them their full title, were founded in the Castelli (Region) of Fiorentino in 1949. The club won their first trophy in 1966 as they secured the domestic cup, the Coppa Titano. They would go on to win another four of these before winning the first of their record nine Campianato Sammarinese titles in 1988.
This heralded somewhat of a golden era for ‘The Three Flowers’ as they won three more league titles as well as two Trofeo Federale successes in the 90s. These titles did not bring about European qualification as San Marino were not granted access to UEFA competition until 2008. After winning their fourth league title in 1995, it would be a year after SS Murata became the first side from San Marino to enter UEFA competition before Tre Fiori would win their fifth.
With that shootout victory over AC Juvenes Dogana in the playoff final, the club entered the Champions League First Qualifying Round and fell in a heart-breaking penalty shootout defeat to Andorra’s UE Sant Julia after a 2-2 draw over two legs. Like their mid-90s purple patch, that 2009 title was the first of three in a row and two more Champions League campaigns but the next two brought heavy defeats to Rudar Pljevlja of Montenegro and Valletta of Malta respectively.
While they would have to wait until 2020 for their next title, 2018 brought about an historic Europa League campaign where they became the first side from San Marino to win a European tie. This came against familiar opponents for the Inver Reds as Welsh outfit Bala Town were beaten 3-1 on aggregate. The men from Fiorentino would go no further than this thanks to a 10-0 aggregate thumping by Slovenian side Rudar Velenje but history was already made.
That title two years later set a Sammarinese record of eight and saw Tre Fiori meet with opposition from Northern Ireland for the first time as they met Linfield in the Champions League. The tie was a one-off at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Blues won 2-0 with goals from Bastien Hery and Christy Manzinga.
San Marino’s all-time record goal scorer Andy Selva took over as manager in 2022 and, while he was unable to secure any silverware in his two seasons in charge, he did guide the club to more European history. The summer of his appointment, Selva’s me became the first team from San Marino to win an away game in Europe as they defeated Fola Esch 1-0 in Luxembourg in the Conference League First Qualifying Round. They sealed the deal with a 3-1 win on home soil for a second ever successful tie on the continent. They were then edged out 1-0 in the second round by Faroese outfit B36 Torshavn.
Last year saw them fall at the first hurdle in the Conference League losing 5-1 to Armenian heavyweights Pyunik – although they did win the second leg at home for just a fourth ever victory on the continent. However, Danilo Girolomoni succeeded where Selva could not as he won the club a ninth title in his second year in charge as Tre Fiori were domestic champions again for the first time in six years. The title race went to the wire but ‘The Ultras’ held off Virtus by a solitary point and Tre Penne by three. They fell one step short of a domestic double and a first Coppa Titano title in four years as they fell 3-1 to La Fiorita in the final. However, that league title was enough to see them back in to dine at the top table of European football and a clash with Gary Haveron’s men.
Three to Watch:
#9 Matteo Prandelli – The 37 year-old forward takes the term ‘journeyman’ to new levels with Tre Fiori the veteran bagman’s 25th club in in an incredible 21 years. After scoring 41 goals in two years at fellow Sammarinese side SS Cosmos, Prandelli joined The Three Flowers in 2024 and has continued that scoring spree. He netted 23 goals in 29 games last season on the way to securing the title and donned the captain’s armband too. He has also scored 14 goals in 19 appearances for the unofficial team of the Padania region in northern Italy.
#10 Tommaso Bernardi – One of only two outfield players to start all 30 league games last season, Bernardi contributed 13 goals and six assists. Usually playing either alongside or just behind Prandelli, he joined Tre Fiori in 2022 from Mezzalora having bounced around the lower leagues of Italy. Just 25 years old, he will be one that will need to be kept quiet.
#17 Michele Nardi – Another experienced campaigner, the 39 year-old goalkeeper will be a tough nut to crack for Larne. Having played over 400 times and earning promotion to Italy’s Serie C with Santarcangelo, Nardi had a brief spell with giants Parma before turning out for Sudtirol, Chievo, Cesena and Fermana before landing in Fiorentino in 2023.
