The Rise of Como 1907 | OneFootball

At the beginning of the decade, Como 1907 was in Serie C, fresh off a promotion from the non-professional fourth division of Italian football. Six years later, the club is playing Champions League football, and it has its eyes on silverware under Cesc Fábregas. 

Italian soccer has always had a dark horse capable of troubling the giants of Inter, AC Milan, Juventus, and now Napoli over the years. Clubs like Atalanta, Fiorentina, Udinese, Lazio and Roma have all pushed the giants at one time or another over the last 30 years, but ultimately failed to get past the finish line, with the exception of Roma and Lazio in the 2000s.

Now the spotlight is on Como. Yes, Como, once more famous for being the place George Clooney bragged about while filming Ocean’s Twelve, has today become the center of what can be done with proper ownership, the right business model, and a commitment to building a lasting foundation rather than becoming a flavor of the month.

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Como 1907, since 2019, has slowly climbed out of the financial turmoil that most small clubs in Italy face and built a solid foundation with a good core of players, a proper tactical approach, and some very smart off-the-field marketing and community building.

In the two seasons since their return to Serie A, Como finished 10th and then, last season, a historic and impressive fourth. Led by the financial backing of the Djarum Group and the tactical intelligence of Cesc Fàbregas, manager since 2024, Como is now ready for the season of their lives, and could be a potential Serie A title dark horse while competing in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in club history.

What Makes Como Tick?

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Under the guidance of Fàbregas, Como is playing some of the most captivating football in Italy, seamlessly blending the sophisticated Spanish positional play of Barcelona’s heyday with a gritty, organized Italian defensive backbone.

Nominally setting up in a fluid 4-2-3-1, Fàbregas and Como retain possession but not just for possession’s sake. Como is often dangerous on the ball, inviting the opponent’s high press, baiting teams deep into their own territory before slicing them open with crisp, one-touch passing triangles.

The entire system is built on central dominance and creating midfield overloads, heavily anchored by the brilliance of Nico Paz, who is given total freedom to ghost between the lines and destabilize defensive blocks.

The moment they lose possession, the aesthetic shifts from fluid to hyper-disciplined as Como quickly reorganizes into a compact 4-4-2 mid-block.

Instead of chasing the ball aimlessly, they systematically herd opposing ball-carriers toward the touchlines, using the boundary as a trap to suffocate the play and trigger aggressive turnovers. This duality, which operates as a fearless, ball-dominant side with the ball while maintaining a deeply pragmatic, structural maturity without it, makes Como one of the most intelligent and thrilling tactical projects in modern Italian football.

Smart Recruitment and Player Retention

Como has now become a favorable destination for players in Italy and, dare we say, Europe, with a team that is on the rise and playing in the UEFA Champions League, while also being located in one of the most picturesque parts of the world. It’s a no-brainer for many footballers.

For the 2026-27 season, Como have added Trevoh Chalobah to anchor their backline, full back Yan Couto, who joined from Borussia Dortmund and has four caps with Brazil on his CV, and journeyman Luis Milla to help in midfield.

Above all, the club still has its backbone in place, with goalscorer Anastasios Douvikas, attacking midfielder Martin Baturina, and captain Lucas Da Cunha returning for their Champions League season.

Then there is Paz. The 21-year-old Argentine and Real Madrid product has committed himself to the club with a contract until July 2028, after the team purchased the player for a club-record €60 million in late June 2026.

He is the absolute heartbeat of this Como side, completely running the show in midfield for Fàbregas. At just 21, the guy is a total cheat code. He racked up 12 goals and six assists last season and has 18 goals and 16 assists in 70 Serie A games.

Paz turned down some of the biggest clubs in Europe to stay and lead Como into their historic first Champions League run, proving he’s the ultimate cornerstone of everything they’re building.

Outlook in 2026-27

Despite some departures, the main core of Como is still there, and one can argue the club has gotten better with its few but important additions. While still a few steps behind Inter, and maybe a step or two behind Napoli, Como can enter the fight with two giants who have notoriously underachieved in the last few seasons: Juventus and AC Milan.

Still targeting a top-six finish, Como could shock the league if they get out of the gate early with wins. A 1-1 draw with Udinese was a difficult start to the season, but a lot will be made of what Como can achieve in Serie A when they take on Napoli in matchday two.

With a style that has blended the silky play of Barcelona with the defensive posture that Italy is known for, Como will look to sneak wins and jump hurdles while Inter and Napoli may be more occupied with deeper runs in the UEFA Champions League, giving Como a chance to gain ground while they “enjoy” their European nights more than others.

While Juventus and AC Milan will start the season in yet another rebuilding mode, Como have a long-standing structure that can only help the team navigate the waters of bigger expectations and continued growth.

For Como, winning Serie A might still be a long-term dream, but that dream is edging closer and closer. Throughout the 2026-27 season, they might just make it to the top of the mountain, with a little luck and a lot of hard work.