The 1997-98 campaign saw Parma AC, under manager Carlo Ancelotti, finish a respectable 6th in Serie A, which secured a coveted spot in the UEFA Cup. Spearheading the league attack was the prolific Argentine, Hernán Crespo, whose 12 goals proved vital, though the team's overall top scorer was Enrico Chiesa with 21 goals. Despite the disappointment of a group stage exit in their first-ever UEFA Champions League appearance, the season was pivotal for building a legendary squad featuring a young, emerging Gianluigi Buffon and the formidable defensive duo of Lilian Thuram and Fabio Cannavaro. This year solidified Parma's status as a major Italian force and laid the groundwork for the silverware they would achieve in the following season.