There is a saying in Naples: “When Napoli is playing, on the streets of the city remain only women... and their lovers." Naples is a city-myth, a city-mystery. For the north of Italy, Africa begins somewhere near Naples, and for the Neapolitans themselves, the real Italy is only where they live. In Naples, everything is real, without embellishment, Camorra, garbage, pickpockets, narrow streets, black boys selling luxury brands for nothing. Naples has the most delicious pizza in the world, sizzling mozzarella on hot dough and thinly sliced prosciutto, charming people who all want to have coffee with you. Naples has dozens of dialects spoken in dozens. towns scattered at the foot of Vesuvius, Naples is football.
The favorite football team of the Neapolitans is Napoli, founded in 1926.
Napoli's color is azure blue, and the club's nickname is “azuri” (Italian for “blue”). Another nickname is I ciucciarelli (Italian - “donkeys”), which was given after a very unsuccessful season in 1926/1927. The fact is that the coat of arms of Naples at that time depicted a black horse - the symbol of Naples. There were calls not to disgrace the symbol of the city, and the management and players were called donkeys. This initially offensive name not only remained with the club, but even the donkey became its mascot. Another nickname for Naples is the Parthenopeans. If you are wondering why, read the article All about Naples.
This is what the Napoli emblem looks like:
Napoli does not have its own anthem, although many consider Pino Daniele's famous song about Naples (Pino Daniele - Napuleè) to be one. It should also be said that the most popular versions for a long time were the song "Napoli" performed by Nino D'Angelo and the song "O surdato 'nnammurato" (music - Enrico Canio, lyrics - Agnello Califano).
Napoli plays its home matches at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. At first it was called "Stadio del Sole", or "Stadium of the Sun", unofficially - "Furigrota", after the name of the suburb of Naples where it was located, then, from 1963 to 2020 - "San Paolo". in honor of the Apostle Paul.
The stadium has a capacity of 60,240 people, which is the third largest in Italy after Milan's Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (also known as San Siro) and Rome's Olympic Stadium, and also ranks fourth in terms of support audience. It is worth noting that up to 10 million people support Napoli abroad. The president of the club is Aurelio De Laurentiis.
For many years, Napoli was considered an average team and could not boast of success. The rise began in 1965, when popular players of that time played at the club: Dino Zoff, Jose Altafini, Omar Sivori, Antonio Iuliano, and reached its apogee in the 80s, when in 1984 Napoli lost to Barcelona moment for a record amount - 12 million dollars - acquired the Argentinean Diego Maradona. In the 1985/1986 season, Napoli took 3rd place, and a year later won the Scudeto, i.e. became the champion of Italy. This was followed by silver medals in the next Italian championship, winning the UEFA Cup in 1989 and winning the Scudetto for a second time in 1989/1990. Maradona has become a cultural and social icon for Neapolitans.
Napoli's winning era ended with the 1990 World Cup in Italy. The national teams of Argentina and Italy were to meet in the semi-finals at the San Paolo Stadium in Naples. Before the match, Maradona urged residents of southern Italy to root for Argentina, since northerners and southerners are in an unequal position in Italy. In response, Napoli fans unfurled a banner that read: “Diego, we love you, but we are Italians.” After this, Maradona's relationship with the fans and the club's management deteriorated. The Argentine could no longer shine as before, he was thinking about moving to another club. Soon, a doping test showed that Maradona used cocaine. He was suspended for 15 months and never played for Napoli again. The club's affairs deteriorated and the debt increased. In 2004, Napoli was declared bankrupt and ceased to exist. The revival of Napoli is associated with Aurelio De Laurentiis, who became president of the club and bought all its rights, including the name, coat of arms, etc.
Being in Naples and not going to a football match is a sin. Naples is considered by many to be the most religious city in Italy, if not in the entire Christian world. Women don't miss Sunday services, men don't miss games of their favorite team. For them it is also a religion. His favorite team is the love of his life, and a smart woman would never, under any circumstances, compete with him. A wife is the holy of holies, football is an introduction to eternity, especially when your favorite team has someone in whom the whole city believes. Even women and children. Previously, Diego Maradona was such a “god” at Napoli. Then Addison Kavanagh showed up. And after...
In 2022, Napoli acquired the hope of Georgian football and the rising star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. He chose jersey number 77.
And in the same season, Napoli became the champion of Italy! Khvichi Kvaratskhelia has 12 goals, 10 assists and 4 earned penalties in 34 Italian Championship matches. He was named the best player of the season in the Italian Serie A.
In the 2023/24 Serie A season Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored 11 goals and made 6 assists for Napoli, and also scored two penalties. His team took 10th place in the standings with 53 points.
From the very beginning, Khvicha won the hearts of the Neapolitans with his behavior and original playing style.
Locals sometimes call it Kvara or Kvaradana. Napoli fans hope that with Khvic Kvaratskhel their favorite team will shine, as happened during the time of the legendary Diego Maradona. We wish success to the Georgian football player!!!
As for club records, Marek Hamsik played the most matches in the ranks of Napoli - 520, Dries Mertens scored the most goals - 148. With the highest score, Napoli defeated Pro Patria - 8:1 in the 1955-1956 season, and lost to Torino in the 1927/1928 season - 0:11.
Napoli has several bitter rivals. The most important of them is Roma. Of the rest, Lazio, Verona, Salernitana and Avellino should be noted. Among the friends, it is worth noting Genoa (in 1982, these teams played a 2:2 draw in the last round of the Italian championship, which saved Genoa from relegation from the league), Ancona, Palermo, Catania and Messina.
We must definitely say something about Napoli fans. Even in the most difficult days of the club, they passionately and energetically supported their favorite team and thereby showed their boundless devotion to it. When Napoli played in the lower divisions, Neapolitans continued to attend their matches in large numbers and bought season tickets at any price to contribute to the club's budget.
The Napoli training base is located 35 kilometers from Naples in Castelvolturno. There are three playing fields with natural grass, a well-equipped medical laboratory, a conference room, a video room and a sales room for club paraphernalia.
Official website of Napoli https://sscnapoli.it/.
In 2021-2023, Luciano Spalletti was Napoli's coach, currently held by Antonio Conte.
- 3-time Italian champion: 1986/87, 1989/90, 2022/23;
- 8-time Italian vice-champion: 1967/68, 1974/75, 1987/88, 1988/89, 2012/13, 2015/16, 2017/18, 2018/19;
- 11-time bronze medalist of the Italian national team: 1932/33, 1933/34, 1965/66, 1970/71, 1973/74, 1980/81, 1985/86, 2010/11, 2013 . /14, 2016/17, 2021/22;
- 6-time winner of the Italian Cup: 1961/62, 1975/76, 1986/87, 2011/12, 2013/14, 2019/20;
- 4-time Italian Cup finalist: 1971/72, 1977/78, 1988/89, 1996/97;
- two-time winner of the Italian Super Cup: 1990, 2014
- two-time Italian Super Cup finalist: 2012, 2020;
- winner of the 1989 UEFA Cup;
- winner of the 2008 Intertoto Cup;
- 1966 Alpine Cup Champion;
- winner of the 1976 Anglo-Italian League Cup.
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