Pepito Day: a night of legends, emotion, and pure Football passion

Florence celebrated Giuseppe Rossi with an event that made the hearts of thousands of fans beat faster: Pepito Day.
On Saturday, March 22, the Artemio Franchi Stadium turned into a stage for a grand football celebration, dedicated to Giuseppe Rossi, the star who left an indelible mark on Fiorentina’s history and in the hearts of fans.

It was a unique opportunity to see some of the great players of the past back on the field and to relive emotions that defined an era.
The spectators in the stands and those watching from home enjoyed an evening full of entertainment, nostalgia, and the celebration of football made of passion and pure talent.

Organized by Oltre Consulting in collaboration with ACF Fiorentina and under the patronage of the City of Florence, Pepito Day was made possible thanks to the support of the Tuscany Region and Toscana Sportiva.
The event was created to honor the extraordinary career of Giuseppe Rossi, a player capable of thrilling fans with his spectacular plays and ability to score decisive goals.

But Pepito Day was more than just a football celebration: it was a true journey through Florentine tradition, with performances and entertainment that made the atmosphere even more magical.
The evening began with a performance by the Street Clerks, a popular Florentine pop rock band, who energized the party with their engaging music.
There was also a touch of history, with the Historical Parade of the Florentine Republic and the Calcio Storico Fiorentino, which brought onto the field representatives from the city’s four historical teams – the Bianchi of Santo Spirito, the Azzurri of Santa Croce, the Verdi of San Giovanni, and the Rossi of Santa Maria Novella – blending tradition with a passion for sport.

The most anticipated moment of the evening was the celebratory match between the Viola legends and the Pepito Team, a selection of stars who shared important moments in Rossi’s career.
At 6:00 p.m., the kickoff began a match that moved fans and took them on a trip down memory lane.
On one side, the great champions who wrote Fiorentina’s history, such as Gabriel Batistuta, Luca Toni, Francesco Toldo, Sebastian Frey, Borja Valero, Francesco Flachi, Gonzalo Rodríguez, Mario Gomez, and Josip Ilicic.
On the other, players who shared unforgettable moments with Rossi in the National Team and the clubs he played for, including Daniele De Rossi, Salvatore Sirigu, Antonio Candreva, Mimmo Criscito, Nemanja Vidic, Marcos Senna, Diego Godin, and Joan Capdevila.

Leading the two teams from the bench were two exceptional coaches: Manuel Pellegrini, who coached Rossi during his time in Spain, and Roberto Dellapina, the first coach who welcomed him in Italy.
The match delivered entertainment and moments of pure fun, with classy moves, spectacular goals, and an atmosphere of great friendship and sportsmanship.
Every action was a fragment of history, bringing back to fans’ minds the best moments they experienced with Pepito on the pitch.

Beyond celebrating the past, Pepito Day also looked to the future of football, giving space to new generations.
Also featured were young talents from the FacolCup, the university tournament that has become an important benchmark for academic sport in Italy.

Eight young players had the honor of stepping onto the field alongside football legends, living a unique and unforgettable experience.
Among them were Enea De Vita, Leonardo Giusti, Victor Mantelli, Cosimo Somigli, Massimiliano Barca, Filippo Piccini, Nik Cinigiani, and Ivan Paggetti—young football prospects who had the chance to live their dream in the stadium that witnessed the feats of some of the greatest players in Fiorentina’s history.

Tickets for Pepito Day, available on Vivaticket and at the stadium box office, allowed thousands of fans to take part in this special day.
For those who couldn’t attend in person, the event was broadcast live on DAZN, allowing everyone to relive the emotions of the evening.

The event’s success shows how deeply Giuseppe Rossi is still rooted in fans’ hearts and how football holds the extraordinary power to unite different generations through passion and shared experience.

Pepito Day was much more than just a sports event: it was a celebration of love for football, passion for Fiorentina, and the talent of a player who thrilled millions of fans.
Florence paid tribute to Pepito with an unforgettable evening, once again proving how football can serve as a bridge between past, present, and future.

PressMediaLAB is proud to have reported on this incredible celebration as the official press office, reaffirming its role as a reference point in the communication of the most prestigious events and the emotions that only great sport can provide.