The 2013-14 campaign delivered one of Parma's best seasons in recent memory as Il Crociati, guided by Roberto Donadoni, surged to a spectacular 6th-place finish in Serie A. Spearheading the attack was the enigmatic Antonio Cassano, whose 12 crucial league goals powered a side that achieved a third consecutive top ten finish. This result, built on consistency and featuring club captain Alessandro Lucarelli, initially secured a coveted return to European football, though this great sporting achievement was tragically stripped away due to the club's severe and foreshadowing financial crisis.