AS Bari was founded in 1908, though some places it is stated in 1928. This is due to the fact that in this period the three teams 'Foot-Ball Club Bari', 'Foot-Ball Club Liberty' and 'Unita Sportiva Ideale', all from Bari, were merged into one team. This was a common trend in Italy in these days, as it also happened in Naples, Florence and Rome. 

Bari, located in Apulia (or Puglia) didn't play many official matches in the start of the club's history as there wasn't many Southern Italian teams. Instead there formed other teams in the city of Bari that played against each other, the same that happened in Rome.

 It was FBC Liberty who partecipated in the first Southern Italian League in 1922-23. The year after US Ideale arrived in the semi-finals, losing to Lazio.  

In 1929 Bari had their player Raffaele Costantino called up for the National Team while they were playing in Serie B. This is the only time in history this has happened for a Serie B player. 1929 is also the year they got their first president Alfredo Atti. 

Bari had their golden age in the 1930's and 1940's where their best achievement was a 7th place in 1947. 

Bari has through history promoted and relegated so many times between Serie B and A that they hold the record for most promotions to Serie A, together with Atalanta: 12 times. Bari also has the record for least goals scored in a Serie A season: 11 in the 1969/70 season.

In 1990 they moved into the new San Nicola Stadium, made for the World Cup 1990. Bari has stayed here every since. The same year they won the Mitropa Cup, which is their biggest European achievement. Another big part of Bari's history is when Igor Protti became Serie A topscorer in 1996. 

Bari gained promotion to Serie A in 2009 under the guidance of Antonio Conte, but failed to stay up and was relegated after the 2010/11 season.