Como's rise lets Liam Kerrigan witness victory over Manchester United

Liam Kerrigan, the former Ireland U21 winger, returned to Como this week to watch the Italian side thrash Manchester United 4‑1 in a Champions League group match, a victory that marks the club’s meteoric rise since his signing four years ago.

From Serie B to Champions League

When Kerrigan arrived at Como in the summer of 2022, the club had announced a three‑year plan to reach Serie A – a target they achieved in just two seasons. In 2019 the team were competing in Italy’s fourth tier, yet by the time of the match they were fielding a side capable of outclassing a European heavyweight. The turnaround accelerated after the Indonesian billionaire Robert Budi Hartono, worth $18.6 billion (€16.62 billion) took over the bankrupt club in 2017 and injected the resources needed for rapid promotion.

Kerrigan’s turbulent Italian journey

Kerrigan entered the professional game as a standout for UCD, helping the Irish college win promotion to the Premier Division in 2021 alongside Colm Whelan. A strong performance for Ireland U21s against Italy convinced Como to step up their pursuit, with Marc Bircham recommending the winger and a Zoom call with then‑chief executive Dennis Wise sealing the deal. After a promising Serie B debut, an ACL injury ruled him out for the season and limited his opportunities when Como rose to Serie A, prompting loan spells at Novara in Serie C and later at Beveren in the Belgian second tier.

During his time at Beveren, Kerrigan benefited from an English‑speaking environment that helped him settle and he featured regularly as the club reached the playoffs. Despite the setbacks, he remained a fan of the club that gave him his first professional contract, recalling how he once dreamed of starring in a victory over his boyhood team.

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Victory over the Red Devils and reflections

On Wednesday, Kerrigan watched from the stands as Como delivered an emphatic 4‑1 win over the Red Devils, a result that underscored the club’s swift ascent and Manchester United’s recent decline. The match took place just a 35‑minute journey from his home in Lecco, and he recognised a few administrative staff while noting that most players and coaches were new faces.

Speaking after the game, Kerrigan praised former Arsenal and Barcelona star Cesc Fàbregas, now Como’s manager, describing him as “a proper sound lad, pure, humble and nice in and around the changing room”. He added that the experience of watching his former club dominate was “a little over four years since I signed, and I could have never imagined the speed of this rise”.

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The story of Kerrigan’s career and Como’s ascent was featured on the 42FM platform, which blends Sport, Golf, Horse, Video Review Podcasts, Rugby Weekly Extra and Football Family content. Readers are invited to See More Stories, with Alamy Stock Photo providing the accompanying images. The piece highlights the intertwining of personal ambition and club ambition, a narrative that resonates across the U21, Italy and broader European football landscape.