Como's remarkable road to the Champions League
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
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From the fourth tier of Italian football to a first UEFA Champions League campaign, Como's rapid rise has brought pride to a city, showcased an ambitious football project and established Cesc Fàbregas as one of Europe's most exciting young coaches.
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On the shores of one of Europe's most celebrated lakes, a new football story is taking shape. Como, a city of around 83,000 people, is preparing for its first UEFA Champions League campaign after the club secured fourth place in Serie A.
For lifelong supporter Michela Trombetta, qualification represents an achievement that few in the city had dared to predict. "I still can't believe it; we hoped to finish in the European places, the top six, but qualifying for the Champions League was never something we imagined," she says.
"We're used to disappointment and suffering, so we always keep our feet on the ground. But in the final months of the season there was a quiet sense of optimism. We were asking each other if it was really going to happen."
From Serie D to Europe's top table
Como's journey to the Champions League has been remarkably swift. The club was bought by brothers Robert and Michael Hartono in 2019, at a time when it was competing in Serie D. Their arrival brought stability and a long-term commitment to developing the club, with a series of appointments across its sporting and administrative operations helping to establish the foundations for progress.
Former England international Dennis Wise became an influential figure behind the scenes, while Thierry Henry joined as a minority shareholder. The arrival of Fàbregas in 2022, initially as a player, proved particularly significant.
Como returned to Serie A for the 2024/25 season and then continued their rise under Fàbregas, securing fourth place and qualification for Europe's leading club competition.
Enrico Levrini, a journalist, author and expert at the club's official museum, has followed Como through every level of the Italian system. "Regarding our qualification to the Champions League, I would never have imagined it so soon, and Cesc Fàbregas has admitted the same," he says.
Levrini believes the club's development has been ambitious but carefully constructed. "They declared from the start they considered our city the perfect place for them and began building gradually. They started appointing key people in important roles; from communications to the sporting side. From Serie D they worked slowly but surely."
The Fàbregas factor
Fàbregas has become central to Como's identity and ambitions. The former Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea and Spain midfielder has a broad role in shaping the club, contributing to player recruitment and squad development as well as coaching the team. That level of influence remains relatively uncommon in Serie A and reflects the confidence Como's ownership has placed in him.
His side have developed a reputation for skilful, attractive football, with a young and internationally minded squad assembled to fit the coach's approach.
Among its most prominent players is Argentinian midfielder Nico Paz, whose performances have attracted supporters from far beyond the region. His creativity and technical quality embody the kind of football Como want to bring to the Champions League.
Giulio Saetta, who covers the club for Gazzetta dello Sport, believes Fàbregas has brought something distinctive to Italian football. "He has an extra gear; we haven't had anyone in Italian football with his mentality. He is very ambitious but also does things properly and with composure. He oversees every single detail and is tactically very capable, and he is also very good at motivating the squad.
"Despite being inexperienced as a coach he is doing so well. He's only had his coaching licence for three years, but the fact that he started playing in the Premier League aged 16 and quickly became a leader may explain that something extra he possesses."
A club and city growing together
Como's transformation has brought new supporters and international attention, but the club's longstanding fans remain determined to retain the identity that accompanied it through the lower divisions.
"There are around 3,000 of us who go back to the Serie B, C, D days and are still supporting the club," says Levrini. "We know that it is a new world, but we don't want to lose our identity, from the lake to the blue shirts. We also want to be known for our style of play."
That connection can be seen in the relationship between the club and its community. Families and young supporters are increasingly visible at the Sinigaglia, while fans who once followed other teams are returning to their local club.
"We have got a big heart," says Trombetta. "There is reciprocal respect and esteem between the club and the fans; we are all in this together to help Como grow. There is a historical group of very passionate fans who are guiding the newcomers. Lots of fans who went off to support other teams are now coming back.
"I love welcoming families with small children at the stadium, because they are the future. And we are sixth in Serie A for number of fans who travel to away matches. That is pretty good considering we were in the lower leagues for so long."
Ready for the Champions League
Como now enter unexplored territory, preparing to face some of Europe's leading clubs for the first time.
Their Champions League debut is another important step on a journey built on investment, careful planning and an increasingly clear footballing identity. It is also a moment for the supporters who remained with the club during its years outside Italy's top division.
"It is a huge achievement for a club like ours," says Trombetta. "And still seems to be a dream. I don't know what to expect, but hopefully we can go as far as possible. And hearing the Champions League anthem at a Como match is madness. I can't wait to shout the final part – the champioooooons! – with tears in my eyes."
From Serie D to the Champions League, Como's journey has already been transformational. Now the minnows from the lake are ready to take on Europe.
Read more in the Champions Journal
This article is from the latest issue of the Champions Journal. You can purchase Issue 28 and all previous releases here.