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==History== {{Further|History of SSC Napoli|Naples FBC|US Internazionale Napoli}} ===Origins=== [[File:Naples Foot-Ball Club 1906.jpg|thumb|left|Team of "Naples F.C.", predecessor of current club, in 1906]] Although the club was officially founded in 1926, Napoli traces its roots to the first relevant Neapolitan club, founded as "Naples Foot-Ball & Croquet Club" in 1905 by English sailor William Poths and his associate Hector M. Bayon.<ref name="earlyhistory2">{{cite news |date=23 June 2007 |title=Storia Del Club, by Pietro Gentile and Valerio Rossano |language=it |publisher=Napoli 2000 |url=http://napoli2000.etereanetwork.com/StoriaClub_Albori.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702133335/http://napoli2000.etereanetwork.com/StoriaClub_Albori.asp |archive-date=2 July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=23 June 2007 |title=Willy Garbutt, The Italian Trailblazer |publisher=[[British Council]] |url=http://www.britishcouncil.org/japan-sport-footballculture-history-garbutt-italy.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080330025643/http://www.britishcouncil.org/japan-sport-footballculture-history-garbutt-italy.htm |archive-date=30 March 2008}}</ref> Neapolitans such as Conforti, Catterina and Amedeo Salsi were also involved; Salsi was named the club's first president.<ref>{{cite news |date=23 June 2007 |title=Dal Naples Football Club all'Internaples |language=it |publisher=S.S.C. Napoli |url=http://www.sscnapoli.it/client/render.aspx?content=0&root=643&lang=en-US |access-date=23 June 2007 |archive-date=25 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925071642/http://www.sscnapoli.it/client/render.aspx?content=0&root=643&lang=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref> The original kit of the club was a [[sky blue]] and navy blue striped shirt, with black shorts.<ref>{{cite news |date=23 June 2007 |title=La Storia β Periodo 1904β1926 |publisher=Napolissimo |url=http://spazioinwind.libero.it/napolissimo/cenni%20storici%201904-1926.htm |access-date=23 June 2007 |archive-date=24 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724191400/http://spazioinwind.libero.it/napolissimo/cenni%20storici%201904-1926.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Naples' first match was a 3β2 win against the English crew of the boat ''Arabik'' with goals from William MacPherson, Michele Scafoglio and LΓ©on Chaudoir.<ref>{{cite news |date=3 April 2009 |title=Napoli back among the big boys |website=FIFA.com |publisher=FΓ©dΓ©ration Internationale de Football Association |url=https://www.fifa.com/news/y=2009/m=4/news=napoli-back-among-the-big-boys-1045169.html |url-status=dead |access-date=14 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119142442/http://www.fifa.com/news/y=2009/m=4/news=napoli-back-among-the-big-boys-1045169.html |archive-date=19 November 2015}}</ref> Early into its existence, the [[Serie A|Italian Football Championship]] was limited to just [[Northern Italy|northern]] clubs, so southern clubs competed against sailors<ref name="earlyhistory2" /> or in cups such as [[Thomas Lipton]]'s [[Lipton Challenge Cup]]. In the cup competed between Naples FBC and [[Palermo FC|Palermo FBC]] Naples won three finals.<ref>{{cite news |date=23 June 2007 |title=I Primi 60 Anni: Dalla Nascita Aalla Coppa Lipton |language=it |publisher=Cuore Rosanero |url=http://www.cuorerosanero.com/primianni.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011210314/http://www.cuorerosanero.com/primianni.htm |archive-date=11 October 2007 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The foreign contingent at the club broke off in 1911 to form [[US Internazionale Napoli|Internazionale Napoli]], who wore blue shirts with white shorts,<ref name="earlyhistory2" /> in time for both club's debut in the Italian Championship of [[1912β13 Prima Categoria#Campania (Southern Final)|1912β13]].<ref>{{cite news |date=26 June 2007 |title=La Storia. β Periodo 1904β1926 β La Preistoria |language=it |publisher=Napolissimo |url=http://spazioinwind.libero.it/napolissimo/cenni%20storici%201904-1926.html |access-date=26 June 2007 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122043133/http://spazioinwind.libero.it/napolissimo/cenni%20storici%201904-1926.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Each of the teams won a Prima Categoria southern Italian titles and therefore competed in the national semi-finals, Naples doing so in 1912β13 and Internazionale Napoli in [[1913β14 Prima Categoria#Campania (Southern Final)|1913β14]].{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} They were set to face each other for the southern titles again in [[1914β15 Prima Categoria#Southern Italy tournament|1914β15]] but it was cancelled due to World War I.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} Due to financial pressure, the two rival clubs merged as the "Foot-Ball Club Internazionale-Naples", abbreviated as "FBC Internaples" on 2 October 1922.<ref>{{cite news |date=11 July 2007 |title=Napoli |publisher=Goal.com |url=http://www.goal.com/it/Squadra.aspx?IdSquadra=165&SEOTeamName=Napoli |access-date=2 August 2021 |archive-date=12 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090712040750/http://www.goal.com/it/Squadra.aspx?IdSquadra=165&SEOTeamName=Napoli |url-status=live }}</ref> Internaples', and later Napoli's kits are derived from those of Naples FBC and Internazionale Napoli; adopting the sky blue from Naples' shirts and the white shorts from Internazionale Napoli.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} ===FBC Internaples=== The merged club was seen by some media and fans to be a continuation of Internazionale Napoli rather than a new club; it played its games at Internazionale Napoli's Terme di Agnano rather than Naples FBC's Campo del Poligono and kept Internazionale Napoli's nickname of ''Gli Azzurri'' (The Blues) rather than ''I Blucelesti'' (The Navy Blue and Sky Blues) used by Naples.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://digitale.bnc.roma.sbn.it/tecadigitale/visore/#/main/viewer?idMetadato=2361664&type=bncr |title=''Il Messaggero'' del 10 novembre 1922, p. 2. |access-date=11 November 2022 |archive-date=1 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101145426/http://digitale.bnc.roma.sbn.it/tecadigitale/visore/#/main/viewer?idMetadato=2361664&type=bncr |url-status=live }}</ref> Internaples were also given the nickname ''I Puledri'' (the foals), as the horse is a symbol of Naples.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://angeloxg1.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/articolo_ilmezzogiorno_ott_1922.jpg |title=articolo de Il Mezzogiorno dell'ottobre 1922. |access-date=11 November 2022 |archive-date=1 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101191402/https://angeloxg1.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/articolo_ilmezzogiorno_ott_1922.jpg |url-status=live }}</ref> Internaples were immediately enrolled in the top-flight [[Prima Divisione]] Lega Sud championship, as both Internazionale Napoli and Naples competed in that division pre-merger. Since the end of World War I both clubs had lost dominance of the region to the likes of [[ASD Puteolana 1902|Puteolana]] and [[US Savoia 1908|Savoia]]. Even with the combined strength of Internaples, Savoia still proved to be the top team in southern Italy. Internaples reached the interregional semi-finals of Lega Sud in each of its first two seasons, and reached the Lega Sud finals in [[1925β26 Prima Divisione|1925β26]]. This secured the club a spot in the new [[Divisione Nazionale]] for the following season.<ref name="PacGar14" /> ===The birth of Associazione Calcio Napoli=== Under the presidency of Giorgio Ascarelli, and likely under pressure from the new fascist government to "Italianize" the club,<ref name="PacGar14">Pacileo e Gargano, ''80 anni di passione'', p. 14.</ref> Internaples changed its name to '''Associazione Calcio Napoli''' on 25 August 1926.<ref>Piergiorgio Renna, ''Il football a Napoli'', p. 39.</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=24 June 2007 |title=A short history of Napoli's roots: The Spark of Life |publisher='O Ciuccio |url=http://members.fortunecity.com/edvella/roots.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211013719/http://members.fortunecity.com/edvella/roots.html |archive-date=11 February 2007}}</ref> The newly renamed team also moved from the Terme di Agnano to a new stadium, the Stadio Militare dell'Arenaccia. After a poor start, with a sole point in an entire championship,<ref name="league22">{{cite book |title=Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio β La Storia 1898β2004 |year=2005}}</ref> Napoli was re-admitted to Serie A's forerunner, the Divisione Nazionale, by the [[Italian Football Federation]] ("FIGC"), and began to improve thanks in part to Paraguayan-born [[Attila Sallustro]], who was the first fully fledged hero to the fans.<ref>{{cite news |date=26 June 2007 |title=Il primo, e ancora indimenticato idolo, dei tifosi partenope |publisher=Cronologia |url=http://cronologia.leonardo.it/sport/napoli.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=24 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722073231/http://cronologia.leonardo.it/sport/napoli.htm |archive-date=22 July 2011}}</ref> He was a capable goal-scorer and eventually set the all-time goal-scoring record for Napoli, which was later surpassed by players like [[Diego Maradona]] and [[Marek HamΕ‘Γk]].<ref>{{cite news |date=26 June 2007 |title=Storia del Napoli: Gli anni venti e trenta |language=it |publisher=Vesuvio |url=http://vesuvio.altervista.org/storia.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715061603/http://vesuvio.altervista.org/storia.htm |archive-date=15 July 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[File:Stadio_San_Paolo_-_panoramio_(3).jpg|left|thumb|Napoli moved to the new [[Stadio Diego Armando Maradona|Stadio San Paolo]] in 1959, where they have played since.]] Napoli entered the Serie A era under the management of [[William Garbutt]].<ref>{{cite news |date=26 June 2007 |title=Gli anni '30 |language=it |publisher=YouNapoli.com |url=http://www.younapoli.com/storia%20del%20napoli.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070504032847/http://www.younapoli.com/storia%20del%20napoli.htm |archive-date=4 May 2007}}</ref> During Garbutt's six-year stint, the club would be dramatically transformed, frequently finishing in the top half of the table.<ref name="league22" /> This included two third-place finishes during the [[1932β33 Serie A|1932β33]] and [[1933β34 Serie A|1933β34]] seasons,<ref name="league2" /> with added notables such as [[Antonio Vojak]], [[Arnaldo Sentimenti]] and [[Carlo Buscaglia]].<ref name="playerrecord2">{{cite web |title=Napoli Player Statistics |url=http://clubanglonapulitano.tripod.com/players.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231225254/http://clubanglonapulitano.tripod.com/players.html |archive-date=31 December 2016 |access-date=14 January 2019 |work=ClubAngloNapulitano}}</ref> However, in the years leading up to World War II, Napoli went into decline, only surviving relegation in [[1939β40 Serie A|1939β40]] by goal average.<ref name="league2" /> Napoli lost a closely contested relegation battle at the end of 1942 and were relegated to [[Serie B]].{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} They moved from the [[Stadio Partenopeo|Stadio Giorgio Ascarelli]] to the [[Stadio Arturo Collana]] and remained in Serie B until after the war.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} ===Post-war era and first trophies=== Play restarted in 1945 with two divisions: one consisting of Serie A teams from the north and one combined division of Serie A and Serie B teams from the central and south, with the top four of each division advancing to the national round that followed. Napoli won the [[1945β46 Italian Football Championship#Central and Southern Italy Serie A-B Championship|Centro-Sud Serie A-B]] to secure a place in the Divisione Nazionale (where they placed fifth) and automatic promotion to the next season's Serie A.<ref name="league2" /> They were relegated after two seasons for a bribery scandal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Italy 1947/48 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ital48.html |publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]] |access-date=3 February 2023 |archive-date=7 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007064232/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ital48.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The club won the Serie B titles that season to ensure top flight football at the start of the 1950s.<ref>{{cite news |date=26 June 2007 |title=Storia del Napoli (1904β1960) |language=it |publisher=Magico Napoli |url=http://it.geocities.com/magiconapoli2004/napoli_sto.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050307202148/http://it.geocities.com/magiconapoli2004/napoli_sto.htm |archive-date=7 March 2005}}</ref> Napoli moved to their new home ground [[Stadio Diego Armando Maradona|Stadio San Paolo]] in 1959.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} Despite erratic league form with highs and lows during this period, including multiple relegations and promotions, Napoli won their first major trophy when they beat [[SPAL]] to lift the [[Coppa Italia]] in 1962, with goals from Gianni Corelli and [[Pierluigi Ronzon]].<ref>{{cite news |date=26 June 2007 |title=Italy β Coppa Italia History |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/italcuphistfull.html |access-date=26 June 2024 |archive-date=12 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012025104/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/italcuphistfull.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The victory made Napoli the first team to win the Coppa while in Serie B, and they were promoted to Serie A that season. Their fourth relegation cut celebrations short the following season.<ref name="calcionap2" /> ===Name change=== As the club changed their name to '''SocietΓ Sportiva Calcio Napoli''' on 25 June 1964<ref name="calcionap2" /> they began to rise up again, gaining promotion in [[1964β65 Serie B|1964β65]]. Under the management of former player [[Bruno Pesaola]], they won the [[Cup of the Alps|Coppa delle Alpi]]<ref name="calcionap2" /> and were back among the elite in Serie A, with consistent top-five finishes.<ref name="league2" /> Napoli came very close to winning the league in [[1967β68 Serie A|1967β68]], finishing just behind [[AC Milan|Milan]] in second place.<ref name="league2" /> Some of the most popular players from this period were [[Dino Zoff]], [[JosΓ© Altafini]], [[Omar SΓvori]] and hometown midfielder [[Antonio Juliano]]. Juliano would eventually break the appearance records, which still stands today.<ref name="playerrecord2" /> ===League stability and second Coppa Italia=== [[File:SSCNapoli1970-71.jpg|thumb|Napoli at the start of the 1970s with [[Dino Zoff]], [[JosΓ© Altafini]], and others]] The trend of Napoli performing well in the league continued into the 1970s, with third place spots in [[1970β71 Serie A|1970β71]] and [[1973β74 Serie A|1973β74]].<ref name="league2" /> Under the coaching of former player [[LuΓs VinΓcio]], this gained them entry into the early [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] competitions. In [[1974β75 UEFA Cup|1974β75]], they reached the third round knocking out [[FC Porto|Porto]] 2β0 ''en route''. During the [[1974β75 Serie A|same season]], Napoli finished second in Serie A, just two points behind champions [[Juventus FC|Juventus]].<ref name="league2" /> Solid performances from locally born players such as [[Giuseppe Bruscolotti]], Antonio Juliano and [[Salvatore Esposito (footballer, born 1948)|Salvatore Esposito]] were relied upon during this period, coupled with goals from [[Giuseppe Savoldi]].<ref name="playerrecord2" /> The club won their second Coppa Italia trophy in [[1975β76 Coppa Italia|1975β76]], eliminating Milan and [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]] ''en route'', before beating rivals [[Hellas Verona FC|Hellas Verona]] 4β0 in [[1976 Coppa Italia final|the finals]]. That season, they also defeated [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] 4β1 on aggregate to lift the 1976 [[Anglo-Italian League Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |date=24 June 2007 |title=Anglo-Italian League Cup |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/angloitleagcup.html |access-date=3 February 2023 |archive-date=29 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629074603/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/angloitleagcup.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Napoli were entered into the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]] for [[1976β77 European Cup Winners' Cup|1976β77]], where they reached the semi-finals, losing 2β1 on aggregate to [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]].<ref>{{cite news |date=26 June 2007 |title=UEFA Cup Winners' Cup |publisher=UEFA |url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/history/season=1976/round=1425/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080111202103/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/history/season%3D1976/round%3D1425/index.html |archive-date=11 January 2008}}</ref> In the Italian league, Napoli were still very much a consistent top six side for much of the late 1970s.<ref name="league2" /> Even into the earliest two seasons of the 1980s, the club were performing respectably with a third-place finish in [[1980β81 Serie A|1980β81]]. [[SSC Napoli Youth Sector|Napoli's Primavera squad]] was also doing well at the time, winning the [[Torneo di Viareggio]] Cup in 1975 and their only [[Campionato Nazionale Primavera]] title in 1979.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Albo d'oro |url=https://www.legaseriea.it/it/primavera-1/albo-d-oro |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=Lega Serie A |language=it |archive-date=2 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002030321/https://www.legaseriea.it/it/primavera-1/albo-d-oro |url-status=live }}</ref> However, by 1983, they had slipped dramatically and were involved in relegation battles.<ref name="league2" /> ===Napoli on the rise: Maradona era=== Napoli broke the world transfer record fee after acquiring [[Diego Maradona]] in a β¬12 million deal from [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] on 30 June 1984.<ref>{{cite news |date=26 June 2007 |title=Finals Countdown: Argentina |publisher=U4 The Game |url=http://www.4thegame.com/features/feature/180001/.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014174058/http://www.4thegame.com/features/feature/180001/.html |archive-date=14 October 2007 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The squad was gradually re-built, with the likes of [[Ciro Ferrara]], [[Salvatore Bagni]] and [[Fernando De Napoli]] filling the ranks.<ref name="playerrecord2" /> The rise up the tables was gradual, by [[1985β86 Serie A|1985β86]], they had a third-place finish under their belts, but better was yet to come. With the attacking trio of Maradona, [[Bruno Giordano]], and [[Careca]] (nicknamed MaGiCa), the [[1986β87 Serie A|1986β87]] season was the landmark in Napoli's history, becoming just the third Italian team to win [[Double (association football)|the double]] after securing the Serie A title by three points and then beating [[Atalanta BC|Atalanta]] 4β0 to lift the [[1986β87 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]].<ref name="calcionap2" /> [[File:19870510_sanpaolo.jpg|left|thumb|Napoli supporters celebrating the team's first ''[[scudetto]]'' in May 1987]] Because a mainland [[Southern Italy|Southern Italian]] team had never won the league before, this turned Maradona into a cultural, social and borderline religious icon for Neapolitans, which stretched beyond the realms of just football.<ref name="d10s2">{{cite news |date=26 June 2007 |title=People's champion |publisher=[[Channel 4]] |url=http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/articles/maradonagg.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529032359/http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/articles/maradonagg.html |archive-date=29 May 2008}}</ref> [[File:Maradona_napoli_uefa_cup.jpg|thumb|Diego Maradona celebrating with the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] trophy after beating [[VfB Stuttgart]], May 1989]] The club were unsuccessful in the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] in the following season and finished runners-up in [[1987β88 Serie A|Serie A]]. However, Napoli were entered into the UEFA Cup for [[1988β89 UEFA Cup|1988β89]] and won their first major European titles.<ref name="calcionap2" /> Juventus, [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] and [[PAOK FC|PAOK]] were defeated ''en route'' to the final, where Napoli beat [[VfB Stuttgart]] 5β4 on aggregate, with two goals from Careca and one each from Maradona, Ferrara and [[AlemΓ£o (footballer, born 1961)|AlemΓ£o]].<ref>{{cite news |date=26 June 2007 |title=European Competitions 1988β89 |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec198889.html |access-date=3 February 2023 |archive-date=27 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127101612/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec198889.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Napoli added their second Serie A titles in [[1989β90 Serie A|1989β90]], defeating Milan by two points in the titles race.<ref name="calcionap2" /> However, this was surrounded by less auspicious circumstances as Napoli were awarded two points for a game, when in [[Bergamo]], an Atalanta fan threw a 100 [[Italian lira|lira]] coin at AlemΓ£o's head.<ref name="league2" /> A controversial set of events set off at the [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990 World Cup]], when Maradona made comments pertaining to NorthβSouth inequality in the country and the ''[[Unification of Italy|risorgimento]]'', asking Neapolitans to root for [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] in the semi-finals against [[Italy national football team|Italy]] in Naples.<ref>{{cite book |last=Maradona |first=Diego |title=El Diego, pg. 165 |year=2004}}</ref> {{cquote|''I don't like the fact that now everybody is asking Neapolitans to be Italian and to support their national team. Naples has always been marginalised by the rest of Italy. It is a city that suffers the most unfair racism.''|20px|20px|[[Diego Maradona]], July 1990 }} The Stadio San Paolo was the only stadium during the competition where the [[Argentine National Anthem]] was not jeered,<ref name="wc902">{{cite book |last=Maradona |first=Diego |title=El Diego, pg. 166 |year=2004}}</ref> Maradona bowed to the Napoli fans at the end and his country went on to reach the finals. However, after the finals, the [[Italian Football Federation]] (FIGC) forced Maradona to take a doping test, which he failed testing positive for [[cocaine]]; both Maradona and Napoli staff later claimed it was a revenge plot for events at the World Cup.<ref name="d10s2" /> Maradona was banned for 15 months and would never play for the club again.<ref name="d10s2" /> The club still won the [[Supercoppa Italiana]] that year, with a record 5β1 victory against Juventus, but it would be their last major trophy for 22 years. In the [[1990β91 European Cup|European Cup]], they were eliminated in the second round.<ref>{{cite news |date=26 June 2007 |title=UEFA European Cup Matches 1990β1991 |publisher=Xs4All |url=http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/data/method1/match1991.html |access-date=26 August 2007 |archive-date=27 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027010717/http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/data/method1/match1991.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Decline=== Though the club finished fourth during the [[1991β92 Serie A|1991β92]] season,<ref name="league2" /> Napoli gradually went into decline after that season, both financially and on the field. Players such as [[Gianfranco Zola]], [[Daniel Fonseca]], Ciro Ferrara and Careca had all departed by 1994. Nonetheless, Napoli qualified for the [[1994β95 UEFA Cup]], reaching the third round and in [[1996β97 Coppa Italia|1996β97]], Napoli appeared at the Coppa Italia finals, but lost 3β1 to [[LR Vicenza|Vicenza]]; Napoli's primavera squad won the [[Coppa Italia Primavera]] that season.<ref>{{cite news |date=24 July 2007 |title=Coppa Italia champions β Names and Numbers; soccer |publisher=[[FindArticles]] |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCN/is_5_26/ai_111201162 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040927220852/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCN/is_5_26/ai_111201162 |archive-date=27 September 2004}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Honours List |url=https://www.legaseriea.it/en/coppa-italia-primavera/roll-of-honour |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Lega Serie A |language=en |archive-date=29 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929021236/https://www.legaseriea.it/en/coppa-italia-primavera/roll-of-honour |url-status=dead }}</ref> Napoli's league form had dropped lower, and relegation to Serie B came at the end of [[1997β98 Serie A|1997β98]] when they won only two matches all season.<ref name="league2" /> The club returned to Serie A after gaining promotion in the [[1999β2000 Serie B|1999β2000]] season, though after a closely contested relegation battle, they were relegated immediately back down the following season.<ref name="league2" /> By August 2004, Napoli was declared bankrupt.<ref>{{cite news |date=24 June 2007 |title=Napoli declared bankrupt says ANSA |publisher=CNN |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SPORT/football/08/02/italy.napoli/ |access-date=27 February 2007 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303173048/http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SPORT/football/08/02/italy.napoli/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> To secure football in the city, film producer [[Aurelio De Laurentiis]] re-founded the club under the name Napoli Soccer, as they were not allowed to use their old name until the next season.<ref name="rename2">{{cite news |date=26 June 2007 |title=Luigi e Aurelio De Laurentiis |language=it |publisher=My Movies |url=http://www.mymovies.it/filmclub/2006/12/186/mymovies.pdf |access-date=26 August 2007 |archive-date=16 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216041723/http://www.mymovies.it/filmclub/2006/12/186/mymovies.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Italian Football Federation|FIGC]] placed Napoli in [[Lega Pro Prima Divisione|Serie C1]], where they missed out on promotion after losing 2β1 in play-offs to local rivals [[US Avellino 1912|Avellino]] in [[2004β05 Serie C1|2004β05]].<ref name="calcionap2" /> Despite the fact Napoli were playing in a low division, they retained higher average attendances than most of the Serie A clubs, breaking the [[Serie C]] attendance record with 51,000 at one match.<ref name="restored2">{{cite news |date=24 June 2007 |title=De Laurentiis: "Il mio Napoli tra le grandi" |language=it |publisher=Solo Napoli |url=http://www.solonapoli.com/leggi_news.asp?Id=12814 |access-date=3 January 2007 |archive-date=20 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620030604/http://www.solonapoli.com/leggi_news.asp?Id=12814 |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Resurgence=== The [[2005β06 Serie C1|following season]], they secured promotion to [[Serie B]] and De Laurentiis brought back the club's history, restoring its name to SocietΓ Sportiva Calcio Napoli in May 2006.<ref name="calcionap2" /> After just one season in Serie B, they were promoted to the top division, along with Juventus and other fellow "sleeping giants" [[Genoa CFC|Genoa]].<ref>{{cite news |date=10 July 2007 |title=Genoa e Napoli ritorno in paradiso |language=it |publisher=[[La Repubblica]] |url=http://www.repubblica.it/2007/06/sezioni/sport/calcio/serie_b/genoa-napoli/genoa-napoli/genoa-napoli.html |access-date=28 July 2009 |archive-date=7 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507211427/http://www.repubblica.it/2007/06/sezioni/sport/calcio/serie_b/genoa-napoli/genoa-napoli/genoa-napoli.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2010, under manager [[Walter Mazzarri]], Napoli finished in sixth place to qualify for a [[2010β11 UEFA Europa League]] spot.<ref>{{cite news |date=2 May 2010 |title=Juve, addio alla Champions. Il Napoli vola in Europa. |language=it |publisher=[[Corriere dello Sport]] |url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/calcio/serie_a/2010/05/02-109637/Juve,+addio+alla+Champions.+Il+Napoli+vola+in+Europa |url-status=dead |access-date=2 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229181247/http://www.corrieredellosport.it/calcio/serie_a/2010/05/02-109637/Juve,+addio+alla+Champions.+Il+Napoli+vola+in+Europa |archive-date=29 February 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Napoli finished third in the [[2010β11 Serie A|2010β11 season]], qualifying directly for the [[2011β12 UEFA Champions League group stage|group stage]] of the [[2011β12 UEFA Champions League]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The 2010β2011 Serie A table |url=http://www.sscnapoli.it/client/render_e.aspx?content=0&root=1244&lang=en-US |access-date=19 July 2011 |publisher=S.S.C.Napoli |archive-date=6 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406022502/http://www.sscnapoli.it/client/render_e.aspx?content=0&root=1244&lang=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[2011β12 SSC Napoli season|2011β12 season]], Napoli ended in fifth place in [[2011β12 Serie A|Serie A]], but defeated unbeaten champions Juventus at the [[Stadio Olimpico]] to win the [[2011β12 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]] for the fourth time in the club's history, 25 years after their last cup win. The team finished second in its group of the 2011β12 UEFA Champions League, progressing to the round of 16, where they were eliminated by eventual winners [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]. In [[2012β13 SSC Napoli season|2012β13]], Napoli finished in second place in [[2012β13 Serie A|Serie A]], the club's best performance since winning the [[1989β90 Serie A|1989β90]] [[Scudetto]]. [[Edinson Cavani]] finished as [[Capocannoniere|top scorer]] in the division with 29 goals, which resulted in him being sold to [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]] for a club-record fee of β¬64 million.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 July 2013 |title=Edinson Cavani joins Paris Saint-Germain for French club record fee |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/jul/16/edinson-cavani-paris-saint-germain-transfer |access-date=2 July 2018 |archive-date=24 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424232149/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/jul/16/edinson-cavani-paris-saint-germain-transfer |url-status=live }}</ref> [[File:Champions_Napoli.jpg|thumb|Napoli celebrating their [[2014 Supercoppa Italiana]] win]] In the 2013 close-season, Mazzarri left Napoli and [[Rafael BenΓtez]] became the club's [[Manager (association football)|manager]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Rafa Benitez Is Napoli Manager |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22684637 |access-date=27 May 2013 |archive-date=13 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613015832/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22684637 |url-status=live }}</ref> They finished the [[2013β14 Serie A|2013β14 season]] by winning the [[2014 Coppa Italia final]]s, their fifth title in the tournament, with a 3β1 win against [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]],<ref>{{cite web |date=3 May 2014 |title=Coppa Italia final: Rafael Benitez's Napoli beat Fiorentina 3β1 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27271913 |access-date=3 May 2014 |publisher=BBC Sport |archive-date=3 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503232442/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27271913 |url-status=live }}</ref> as well as qualifying for the Champions League, but missed out on the group stage as they lost to [[Athletic Bilbao]] in the play-off round.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} Their subsequent run in the Europa League ended when they lost 2β1 on aggregate to [[FC Dnipro|Dnipro]] in the semi-finals.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} They finished the [[2014β15 Serie A|2014β15]] season in fifth, with BenΓtez then leaving for [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] and being replaced by [[Maurizio Sarri]].{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} In Sarri's first season in charge in the [[2015β16 Serie A|2015β16 season]], Napoli finished in second place with 82 points, and were knocked out of the Europa League in the round of 32 against [[Villarreal CF|Villarreal]].{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} In the following season, Napoli finished in third place on 86 points and were knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 16 against Real Madrid.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} This year saw the breakout season for [[Dries Mertens]] who scored 34 goals in all competitions after he was moved from the left-wing to centre-forward following [[Arkadiusz Milik|Milik]]'s torn [[Anterior cruciate ligament injury|Anterior cruciate ligament]].{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} In the [[2017β18 Serie A|2017β18]] season, Napoli challenged for the titles for the entire season, and finished with a club record of 91 points. However, the titles ultimately went to Juventus in the penultimate round of matches.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 May 2018 |title=Juventus secure 7th straight Serie A title; Inter's top-4 hope restored |publisher=ESPN FC |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/italian-serie-a/story/3496234/juventus-secure-7th-straight-serie-a-title;-inters-top-4-hope-restored |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141735/http://www.espn.co.uk/football/italian-serie-a/story/3496234/juventus-secure-7th-straight-serie-a-title;-inters-top-4-hope-restored |url-status=live }}</ref> On 23 December 2017, Marek HamΕ‘Γk overtook Diego Maradona as Napoli's all-time leading scorer after scoring his 115th goal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-23 |title=Hamsik breaks Maradona's Napoli record |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/napoli/story/3322199/marek-hamsik-breaks-diego-maradonas-napoli-scoring-record |access-date=2020-07-26 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |archive-date=12 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112104510/https://www.espn.com/soccer/napoli/story/3322199/marek-hamsik-breaks-diego-maradonas-napoli-scoring-record |url-status=live }}</ref> At the end of the season, Sarri left for Chelsea, succeeded by [[Carlo Ancelotti]] in May 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 May 2018 |title=Official: Napoli appoint Ancelotti |url=https://www.football-italia.net/121800/official-napoli-appoint-ancelotti |publisher=Football Italia |access-date=10 December 2019 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142005/https://www.football-italia.net/121800/official-napoli-appoint-ancelotti |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Napoli hire Carlo Ancelotti to replace Maurizio Sarri as manager2">{{cite news |date=23 May 2018 |title=Napoli hire Carlo Ancelotti to replace Maurizio Sarri as manager |publisher=ESPN |agency=PA Sport |url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/napoli/story/3508317/napoli-sign-carlo-ancelotti-to-replace-maurizio-sarri-as-manager |access-date=23 May 2018 |archive-date=9 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609215631/https://www.espn.com/soccer/napoli/story/3508317/napoli-sign-carlo-ancelotti-to-replace-maurizio-sarri-as-manager |url-status=live }}</ref> He managed the club to another second-place finish, but was sacked on 10 December 2019, following a poor run of results in the [[2019β20 Serie A|2019β20 season]] which left them seventh in the table. [[Gennaro Gattuso]] was named head coach the next day.<ref>{{cite news |date=11 December 2019 |title=Napoli appoint Gennaro Gattuso as head coach after sacking Carlo Ancelotti |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/dec/10/carlo-ancelotti-sacked-by-napoli-despite-champions-league-qualification |access-date=11 December 2019 |archive-date=11 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211004945/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/dec/10/carlo-ancelotti-sacked-by-napoli-despite-champions-league-qualification |url-status=live }}</ref> On 14 June 2020, Dries Mertens became Napoli's all-time top scorer after scoring his 122nd goal in a Coppa Italia semi-finals match against [[Inter Milan|Inter]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mertens sets record as Napoli advances to Coppa Italia final - Sportsnet.ca |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/mertens-sets-record-napoli-advances-coppa-italia-final/ |access-date=2020-07-26 |website=www.sportsnet.ca |archive-date=29 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229195428/https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/mertens-sets-record-napoli-advances-coppa-italia-final/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Napoli went on to win the [[2019β20 Coppa Italia]] in a [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-out]] against Juventus in the [[2020 Coppa Italia final|finals]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Roger |date=17 June 2020 |title=Napoli beats Juventus on penalties to win Coppa Italia final; Ronaldo, Buffon denied title: Live updates |work=CBS Sports |url=https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/napoli-beats-juventus-on-penalties-to-win-coppa-italia-final-ronaldo-buffon-denied-title-live/live/ |access-date=17 June 2020 |archive-date=18 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618082453/https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/napoli-beats-juventus-on-penalties-to-win-coppa-italia-final-ronaldo-buffon-denied-title-live/live/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2020, Napoli renamed San Paolo after club icon [[Diego Maradona]], following his passing.<ref>{{cite web |date=4 December 2020 |title=Diego Maradona: Napoli renames stadium after late club legend |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55193282 |access-date=14 December 2020 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |archive-date=16 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216211510/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55193282 |url-status=live }}</ref> Napoli finished fifth in Serie A that season after a draw on the finals day, missing a Champions League berth by one point.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} In the [[2021β22 Serie A|2021β22]] season, [[Luciano Spalletti]] replaced Gennaro Gattuso as head coach and led the team to the third place in Serie A, securing a Champions League spot for the azzurri after a two-years absence.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 2022 |title=Napoli and Juventus qualify for 2022-23 Champions League - Football Italia |url=https://football-italia.net/napoli-and-juventus-qualify-for-2022-23-champions-league/ |access-date=23 May 2022 |archive-date=1 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501204616/https://football-italia.net/napoli-and-juventus-qualify-for-2022-23-champions-league/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Scudetto return=== In the [[2022β23 Serie A|2022β23]] season, Napoli clinched the Serie A title for the first time since the 1989β90 season, and their third title overall, following a 1β1 draw against [[Udinese Calcio|Udinese]] on 4 May 2023, their first time as titleholders since the days of Diego Maradona.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/napoli-win-serie-a-title-with-draw-at-udinese-clinch-scudetto-for-first-time-since-days-of-diego-maradona/|title=Napoli win Serie A title with draw at Udinese, clinch Scudetto for first time since days of Diego Maradona|work=CBS Sports|date=May 4, 2023|first=Francesco|last=Porzio|access-date=4 May 2023|archive-date=16 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516155350/https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/napoli-win-serie-a-title-with-draw-at-udinese-clinch-scudetto-for-first-time-since-days-of-diego-maradona/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65488842|title=Udinese 1 Napoli 1|date=4 May 2023|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=5 May 2023|archive-date=14 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714154304/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65488842|url-status=live}}</ref> Meanwhile, in the [[2022β23 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]], Spalletti led them to the quarter-finals for the first time in their European history, where they were beaten 2β1 (1β0 away and 1β1 at home) by fellow Serie A side Milan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FINALE Napoli-Milan 1-1: rossoneri in semifinale dopo 16 anni! |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Milan/18-04-2023/napoli-milan-diretta-champions-league-risultato-live-4601174011691.shtml |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=La Gazzetta dello Sport |date=18 April 2023 |language=it-IT |archive-date=28 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428031905/https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Milan/18-04-2023/napoli-milan-diretta-champions-league-risultato-live-4601174011691.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[2023β24 Serie A|2023β24]] season proved to be extremely difficult for the club, as they went through three different coaches - [[Rudi Garcia]], a returning Walter Mazzarri, and [[Francesco Calzona]]; this managerial instability, as well as the new hires largely not performing to the club's expectations, led the Azzurri to finish 10th in the league, 41 points behind eventual champions Inter. In Europe, the club passed the group stage of the [[2023β24 UEFA Champions League]] in a group with [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]], [[1. FC Union Berlin|Union Berlin]] and [[SC Braga|Braga]], but were ultimately eliminated by [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] in the round of 16. For the [[2024β25 Serie A|2024β25]] season, the club signed [[Antonio Conte]] in a bid to contest the title again.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cappiello |first=Matteo |date=2024-06-05 |title=Antonio Conte named new Napoli coach |url=https://sscnapoli.it/en/antonio-conte-e-il-nuovo-allenatore-del-napoli/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=SSC Napoli |language=en-US}}</ref> Their season started out with a 3β0 away loss against [[Hellas Verona]], but the Azzurri quickly bounced back with five wins and one draw in the following six matches. The team also signed [[Scott McTominay]] and [[Romelu Lukaku]] late during summer, both players turning out to be very important for the title campaign. Napoli maintained strong form throughout the campaign and entered the final matchday one point ahead of [[Inter Milan]], and won the title by winning 2-0 over [[Cagliari Calcio|Cagliari]] on 23 May, winning their fourth title, the second in a three-year span, cementing Napoli as a consistent contender in the Serie A.<ref name="CBS">{{cite web |title=Napoli down Cagliari, win 2024-25 Serie A title: Antonio Conte wins the Scudetto in his first year at the club |first=Francesco |last=Porzio|url=https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/napoli-down-cagliari-win-2024-25-serie-a-title-antonio-conte-wins-the-scudetto-in-his-first-year-at-the-club/|work=CBS Sports |access-date=23 May 2025|date=23 May 2025}}</ref>
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