| AC Monza Team eSports | |
| Fullname: | AC Monza Team eSports |
| Short Name: | Monza |
| Owner: | Silvio Berlusconi (via Fininvest S.p.A.)--> |
| Parent Group: | AC Monza |
| Manager: | Alessandro Brandi |
| Games: | FIFA |
AC Monza Team eSports, or simply Monza (pronounced as /it/), is the esports department of Italian football club Monza. The division was established in September 2019 as a FIFA team.
Monza formed their esports team in September 2019, to compete in competitive FIFA games on PlayStation consoles.[1] Simone Figura (Figu7rinho) and Raffaele Cacciapuoti (Er_Caccia98) were presented as the team's first pro players.[2] In May 2020, Er_Caccia98 won the European tournament of the 32nd edition of Futhead's Tuesday Night Football.[3]
Figura left in November 2020, and made way for Renzo Parave (Nzorello).[4] Monza reached the 2021 FIFA eClub World Cup Europe semi-finals, and were ranked 12th in the overall rankings;[5] they were the third-best professional football club in Europe, and fourth worldwide.[6] In the 2021 eChampions League, Er_Caccia98 reached the final, losing to Danish player OliverPN;[7] he won $50,000 for finishing second.[8]
In January 2022, the Osservatorio Italiano Esports (OIES) presented their "OIES Badge" to a select few esports teams;[9] Monza and Inter Milan were the only two football clubs to receive the certification.[10]
In October 2022, Cacciapuoti was confirmed in the roster for the fourth consecutive year, while Parave was replaced by Lucio Vecchione (HHezerS).[11] During the 2022–23 season, Monza made their debut in the eSerie A,[12] finishing third, and won the Italian eSupercup.[13] Monza finished runners-up in the eChampions League a second time in 2023, with HHezerS losing to EmreYilmaz in the final.[14]
| Handle | Name | Nationality | Period | Console | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Figu7rinho | Simone Figura | 13 September 2019 – 6 November 2020 | PlayStation | ||
| Nzorello | Renzo Parave | 6 November 2020 – 25 October 2022 | PlayStation |
| FIFAe Club World Cup – Europe | 3–4th of 14 | Er_Caccia98, Nzorello | 2021 (FIFA 21) | |
| eChampions League | 2nd of 32 | Er_Caccia98 | 2021 (FIFA 21)[15] | |
| 2nd of 32 | HHezerS | 2023 (FIFA 23) | ||
| eSerie A | 3rd of 14 | Er_Caccia98, HHezerS | 2022–23 (FIFA 23) | |
| eSupercup | 1st of 14 | Er_Caccia98, HHezerS | 2023 (FIFA 23) |