This article will tell you about the history of Italian club SSC Napoli
SSC Napoli is a professional football club based in Naples, Italy. The club was founded in 1926 and has a rich and storied history in Italian football. The club won the 2022/23 Serie A title which was also their first in 32 years, that is, since 1990.
The fans in the city of Naples went crazy after the final whistle of the game between Napoli and Udinese. They celebrated beautifully on the streets and gave a huge tribute to the club’s greatest player Diego Maradona.
How Did Maradona Become The Club’s Greatest Player?
Napoli won their first Serie A title in the 1986-87 season under the guidance of the legendary Argentine coach Diego Maradona. Maradona had joined the club from Barcelona in 1984 and quickly established himself as one of the greatest players in the world.
He led Napoli to their first major trophy, the Coppa Italia, in the 1986-87 season, and then followed it up with their first Serie A title the following year.
Maradona’s time at Napoli is widely regarded as the most successful period in the club’s history, as he helped them win another Serie A title in the 1989-90 season.
After Maradona’s departure, Napoli struggled to maintain their success, and the club went through a period of decline in the 1990s. They were relegated to Serie B in the 1997-98 season but bounced back the following year and returned to Serie A.
Struggle In the 21st Century
In the early 2000s, Napoli experienced financial difficulties and were relegated once again in the 2000-01 season. However, the club was bought by film producer Aurelio De Laurentiis in 2004, and he set about rebuilding the team. Under De Laurentiis’ ownership, Napoli has become a major force in Italian football once again.
In the 2006-07 season, Napoli won the Serie C1 title and gained promotion to Serie B. They finished third in their first season back in Serie B, narrowly missing out on promotion to Serie A. However, they gained promotion the following season, finishing second in Serie B.
Napoli’s return to Serie A was marked by a period of stability and consolidation. They finished in the top half of the table for five consecutive seasons, from 2010-11 to 2014-15. They also won the Coppa Italia twice during this period, in the 2011-12 and 2013-14 seasons.
In the 2015-16 season, Napoli made a serious challenge for the Serie A title, finishing just two points behind champions Juventus. They also reached the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League, where they were knocked out by Spanish side Villarreal.
The following season, Napoli finished third in Serie A and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where they were beaten by eventual runners-up Liverpool. They also reached the final of the Coppa Italia but were beaten by Juventus.
In the 2017-18 season, Napoli mounted another serious challenge for the Serie A title, finishing just four points behind champions Juventus. They also reached the round of 16 of the Champions League, where they were knocked out by German giants RB Leipzig.
Recent Success
In the 2018-19 season, Napoli won the Coppa Italia for the first time since 2014, beating Juventus 2-0 in the final. They also finished second in Serie A, 11 points behind champions Juventus. However, their form dipped in the following season, and they finished seventh in Serie A, missing out on European qualification.
Napoli’s current manager is Luciano Spalletti, who was appointed in May 2021. The club has a number of talented players, including Italian striker Lorenzo Insigne, Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik, and Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
In 2022/23 season, the match between Napoli and Udinese ended in a 1-1 draw. Just after the final whistle of the game, all the fans reached the ground and celebrated the legendary moment with Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who led Napoli to their third Serie A title and first in over three decades.
Fanbase
Off the pitch, Napoli has a passionate and loyal fanbase, known as the “Azzurri” or the “Partenopei.” The club has a fierce rivalry with Juventus, and their matches are among the most highly anticipated fixtures in Italian football.
