By CLEMENTE LISI

Everyone’s favorite success story, Chievo Verona, are back in Serie A.

The small club from Verona — nicknamed the “Flying Donkeys” by Verona fans who used to say that donkeys would fly before Chievo reached Serie A — secured automatic promotion on Sunday following a 1-1 tie against Grosseto.

For those of you that don’t know the story, Chievo are a small club from Verona that before 2001 were always in the lower divisions of Italian soccer.

In 2001, the team achieved a historic promotion to Serie A. In their first season in the top flight, the small club, coached by Luigi Del Neri, proved to be a real force and finished fifth, good enough for a UEFA Cup spot.

Since then, they have held their own in Serie A, but last season dropped on the last day of the season after six years following a loss to Catania.

This season in Serie B, Chievo were the dominant force, led by captain Sergio Pellissier up front and manager Giuseppe Iachini.

Let’s see if the Flying Donkeys will continue to fly next season or the if the donkeys will lose their wings.

Meanwhile, Avellino, Ravenna, Spezia and Cesena were all relegated to Serie C1.

Bologna, Leece and Albinoleffe all remain in contention for the remaining two Serie A promotion spots — barring the need for playoffs — with one round left to be played.