The 2000-01 campaign delivered ultimate heartbreak for Vicenza as the Biancorossi finished a perilous 16th in Serie A, resulting in automatic relegation back to the second tier. This difficult year, which followed their recent promotion, was not without its revelations, however, as it featured the Serie A debut and emergence of a young, powerful striker, Luca Toni, whose 9 crucial goals, including a match-winning brace against Parma, proved a thrilling highlight. Despite Toni's efforts, the season's failure marked a painful chapter that saw the historic club fall back into the lower divisions.