In summer 2005, the club replaced Rossi with young coach Stefano Colantuono. In his first season in charge, he led the team back to Serie A. The club won the 2005–06 Serie B with a total of 81 points and a club record of 24 victories in a league campaign. Atalanta's upward trajectory continued in Serie A in 2006–07, when the club finished in eighth place with 50 points, only four points behind Empoli and UEFA Cup qualification. Despite this success, Colantuono decided to leave the club and move to Palermo; the club replaced him with former Chievo coach Luigi Delneri in summer 2007 as a result.