Fresh off a historic victory in the 2024–2025 Europa League, the JCU Gladiators Men’s Soccer team has etched its name in university history. After years without a major title, this resilient and determined group of athletes brought home John Cabot University’s first-ever championship trophy—marking a new era for JCU Athletics. This is more than just a team; it’s a growing legacy. With each season, the squad gets stronger, more united, and more ambitious. Expectations are high, and we can’t wait to see what the Gladiators will bring to the pitch in the upcoming season.

 

Let’s GO GLADIATORS: let’s DO IT FOR THE PRIDE! 2025–2026 season

The team won 1st place of 2025’s Europa League of Universities of Rome Championship

 

JCU Men’s Soccer Team is one of the forerunners that paved the way for the beginning of the Universities of Rome Championship in 2005. In 2004, JCU decided to organize a friendly triangular game together with Foro Italico and Link Campus, which turned into a proper tournament the following year. Since then, more universities have been invited to participate, and the tournament has never stopped growing.

Although JCU has never won the first place yet, our Gladiators have always represented a very challenging rival. In 2007/2008, JCU made it to the semifinals, and in 2017/2018, our team earned an important 3rd place in the final ranking, which demonstrated the improvement that our Gladiators have made so far.

In 2014, Gladiators’ Captain Sergio Romano received the Fair Play Award.

In 2015/2016, our goalkeeper Alfredo Verrina was ranked second best goalkeeper of the tournament.

In 2017/2018, Riccardo Vallese, Captain of the team, was nomitated Most Valuable Player of the Season.

In 2018/2019, Josè Pablo Ortega also won the Most Valuable Player Award of the Season.

In the 2019-2020 Regular Season of the Tournament our team earned the 1st place, for the very first time in the story of JCU Men’s Soccer. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic lockdown, the Tournament was stopped.

In 2024/2025, team’s Captain Matteo Bartolini won Top Scorer of the Season.

Below you can find the record year by year of the first place winners

2005-2006 →LUISS

2006-2007 →F. ITALICO

2007-2008 →LUISS

2008-2009 →CATTOLICA

2009-2010 →ERASMUS ESN

2010-2011 →ERASMUS ESN

2011-2012 →F. ITALICO

2012-2013 →F. ITALICO

2013-2014 →F. ITALICO

2014-2015 →LUISS

2015-2016 →F. ITALICO

2016-2017 →LINK CAMPUS

2017-2018 →LINK CAMPUS

2018-2019 →LINK CAMPUS

2021-2022 →F. ITALICO

2022-2023 →LUISS

2023-2024 →LUISS

2024-2025→LUISS

Click here if you want to find all details about the previous men’s soccer seasons