The 2015-16 campaign was a season of immediate, agonizing ambition for Cesena as the Cavallucci Marini, recently relegated from Serie A, surged to a 6th-place finish in Serie B, securing a promotion play-off spot. Leading the charge was the prolific Camillo Ciano, whose 11 league goals (14 total) proved vital in a side managed by Massimo Drago. It was a breakout year that saw the emergence of future stars like Franck Kessié and Stefano Sensi, but the season ended in cruel heartbreak as the club was narrowly eliminated by Spezia in the preliminary play-off round, halting their dream of an immediate return to the top flight.