The 1996-97 campaign for Atalanta was a season defined by individual brilliance and profound tragedy, as La Dea secured a respectable 10th-place finish in Serie A. Spearheading the charge was the sensational centre-forward Filippo Inzaghi, whose league-leading 24 goals won him the prestigious Capocannoniere title, a historic first for the club. However, the year was tragically marred by the death of young forward Federico Pisani in a car accident, in whose memory the club retired the number 14 shirt, forever linking the campaign with a moment of deep sorrow and honor.