A glance at the UEFA ranking at the end of 1981 shows Italy quite low in the table, but there was a discrepancy: UEFA ranks countries on the base of 5-year calculation of teams performance in the European tournaments. Italy declined seriously during the 1970s, hence, they were down. On the other hand, the opening of Italian market to foreign players instantly increased the tarnished reputation – it was the place to be. There were no results yet and in purely football terms, the Italian championship was still quite poor compared to England and West Germany, but there was no doubt the class will increase. The win of the World Cup pushed Italian football ahead, but it was still in the unknown future – in the summer of 1981 it was largely the lure of big money, talks and speculations of further purchases of world-class players, generating more hype than results, hopes for the future. No immediate results and the championship showed the difference between hopes and reality. The Tottonero scandal still rocked Italian football, defensive tactics still ruled the game, scoring goals was still a rare heroic achievement. Italy was the place to be, the football was not one to watch.
Third Division or Serie C/1. Two leagues of 18 teams each, the top two teams promoted to Second Division. Some former first division clubs here, but not much. Vicenza perhaps should be noted: only a few years ago running for the title and playing in Europe, now down and out of sight. Permanently out, one must point out: they finished 4th in Girone A, thus remaining in the obscurity of third level football. Others did much better.
Monza finished 2nd and was promoted to second division. One point made the difference – they finished with 47 points, Modena and Vicenza with 46. It was a four-team race for two places.
Atalanta (Bergamo) won Girone A with 49 points. Important victory – third division was not quite right for them, the club wanted to climb back to big football and they did it – at least the first step. Well done.
Girone B was also a four-team race for two places, but seemingly a weaker league, judging by the participants. Ternana, Taranto, and Livorno played first division quite a long time ago and not very successfully at that – now they were nobodies and not up to the task.
Campobasso finished 2nd with 45 points and was promoted. Fine season for a team whose biggest dream could be second division. So far, the dream was coming true.
With 47 points Arezzo won the league. Another small team – winning the third division was the kind of a title they could win at best. Going up was wonderful, of course.
Well, these four were the new members of second division and only Atalanta was a know club, possibly with some ambitions bigger than keeping a spot there. For the moment – great for the winners.