The 1998-99 campaign delivered ultimate heartbreak for Vicenza as the Biancorossi finished a crushing 17th in Serie A, resulting in a dramatic relegation to Serie B. Despite the intense struggle to avoid the drop, the Uruguayan striker Marcelo Otero was a key beacon of hope, grabbing 10 goals in a turbulent year built on grit that tragically ended their top-flight status and remains a painful chapter in the club's history.