The 2001-02 campaign was a miracle season for Chievo Verona, delivering a spectacular 5th-place finish in their first-ever Serie A campaign. Widely tipped for immediate relegation, 'I Mussi Volanti' (The Flying Donkeys) defied all expectations, playing entertaining, offensive football under manager Luigi Delneri and even topping the league table for six memorable weeks. Leading the attack was Massimo Marazzina, whose 13 crucial goals fired the team to a highly respectable finish and secured a coveted spot in the UEFA Cup, a monumental achievement that remains a defining chapter in the club's history.