The 2004-05 campaign delivered a stunning, defiant return to the elite for Livorno as the newly-promoted Amaranto finished a highly respectable 9th in Serie A, their first top-flight season in 55 years. Leading the charge was the beloved, openly political striker Cristiano Lucarelli, whose phenomenal 24 goals earned him the coveted Capocannoniere title, an extraordinary feat for a provincial club. It was a season built on the team's grit, an initial shock 2-2 draw with AC Milan at the San Siro, and the fierce, left-wing pride of their supporters, instantly cementing their historic re-establishment in Italian football.