Bologna –
Virtus Segafredo Bologna – Retro Uniform “FORTE, FRANCO, FERMO, FIERO.”
Virtus Segafredo Bologna is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Euroleague, the top European competition that in its first year of existence, in the 2000/2001 season, saw the V Nera itself on the roof of Europe. Virtus was, in fact, the first team ever and the only Italian team at the time to win the competition.
To celebrate the history of the Euroleague, of which Virtus is strongly a part, the reference on the jersey is to the first social badge of SEF Virtus, the “Mother House” of the Virtus basketball section: it was conceived in 1875 and it is the shield with four “F’s,” arranged in a cross. The meaning of those four letters is “Forte, Franco, Fermo, Fiero.” That symbol was taken by the then Virtussini leaders from a symbol that had been introduced in Germany in 1846 where the four “F’s” represented the initials for frisch, frei, frolich and frumb (later fromm). The intended message was, “A strong man has the frankness of spirit, the firmness of purpose, the pride of deeds.” “Strong, Frank, Firm, Proud,” the four virtues the gymnast must have.
This motto was later adopted in all the sports that SEF Virtus had within it, including, of course, basketball. Throughout the glorious history of Virtus, these four virtues have always been a reminder to all those who, over the years, have worn the V Nere jersey. V Nera that, in the commemorative jersey for 25 years of Euroleague, returns as it had been used on match undershirts until the 1990s.
The “Forte, Franco, Fermo, Fiero” kit is made of 100 percent recycled polyester and the shorts are made following the “woven” process, which makes them lighter and more elastic.
“Forte, Franco, Fermo, Fiero” still stand for the virtues that want to represent Virtus in Italy and Europe. The four “Fs” today are also found among the fans, who in 2018 introduced a flag depicting precisely the first social badge in all competitions, which characterizes the uniform with which Virtus celebrates the 25-year anniversary of the birth of Euroleague.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna’s 25-year Euroleague anniversary uniform is available in a limited edition online here or at Casa Virtus.
