Unione Sportiva Lecce traces its origins to 15 March 1908, when Sporting Club Lecce was founded in the city of Lecce, in the sun-drenched Apulia region at the heel of Italy's boot. The club dissolved and was refounded several times in its early decades, settling into its current identity as Unione Sportiva Lecce on 16 September 1927. In those formative years the team wore black and white stripes before adopting the giallorossi — yellow and red — colours that define them today.
Lecce's path to the top flight was a long one, shaped by spells in every tier of Italian football. They finally reached Serie A for the first time in the 1985–86 season and, under coach Carlo Mazzone, enjoyed their finest campaign in 1988–89, finishing ninth — still the club's best-ever Serie A result. That side featured future Italy manager Antonio Conte in midfield alongside striker Pedro Pasculli. A vivid period came in the mid-2000s under Zdeněk Zeman, whose attack-minded philosophy produced a team that scored freely, gave watching neutrals great entertainment, and somehow survived relegation with the division's worst defensive record.
In terms of silverware, Lecce's proudest moments are two Serie B title victories, in 2010 and 2022, each earning promotion back to the top flight. The club has also won a Coppa Italia Serie C (1975) and an Anglo-Italian Cup (1976).
Lecce remain a proud provincial club — a salentini institution — representing a region that is geographically remote from Italy's football heartlands. Their supporters embrace that underdog identity, making the Stadio Via del Mare a passionate home for a club that has spent roughly two dozen seasons competing at Serie A level.