Napoli crowned champion of Italian football 2023: Maradona’s legacy and the Neapolitan triumph By D. Romain
Intro:
The streets of Napoli echoed with cheers and celebrations from football fans as their team were crowned champions of Italy after 33 years. It’s a dream come true. Napoli is champion of Italy 2023. Throughout the city, fans celebrated their team’s historic victory with fireworks, chants and flares, turning it into a long street party which was also attended by many Argentines. This is the first time since Diego Maradona led the club to league glory in 1987 and 1990 that the “Partenopei” have claimed a Serie A title. When the team drew 1-1 against Udinese at the Dacia Arena in Udine, at the final whistle, Napoli fans took to the pitch in full euphoria. This Napoli title re a well-managed group that often overwhelmed opponents with stars in every department: top scorer Victor Osimhen in attack, assistant leaders Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in left-field, overtaking maestro Stanislav Lobotka in central midfield and the physical presence of Kim Min- Jae as central defender, not to mention their veteran manager Luciano Spalletti.
I. The Rise of Naples: A Summary of Their Victorious Journey
Powered by Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia – How did Napoli win the title?
The southern Italians secured the title playing spectacular football, featuring an attacking style fueled by Osimhen and Georgian maestro Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, alongside a supporting cast of previously unknown stars. Napoli had come close in the past, but have always hit an obstacle along the way and failed. That has not been the case this season, with Spalletti at the helm. Goalkeeper Alex Meret and defenders Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, Kim Min-jae and Mário Rui form a solid defensive quartet. Kim Min-jae, at just 25, has emerged as a star. In Napoli he successfully filled the void left by Koulibaly. With the highest passing-per-game average in the league, Kim helps his team weather the pressure. Additionally, Kim is a talented defender, ranking in the top seven for blocks. The midfield formed by Lobotka, Anguissa, Zieliński and Ndombélé serves as the backbone of Napoli’s game. Defensive midfielders play a crucial role in regaining possession between the lines and creating numerical superiority for the team.
Napoli finds a perfect balance between attack and defense. They possess a diverse offensive style with attacks coming from various angles and areas of the pitch. Players like Kvaratskhelia, Zieliński and Osimhen have the ability to change the rules of the game, keeping opponents on their toes. The defense is also rock solid, with players like Kim Min-jae able to both counter-attack and help build the game. This combination of attacking and defensive talent makes Napoli a formidable team that is difficult to beat.
The success of Napoli: the tactical genius of Luciano Spalletti
In essence, Spalletti is a shrewd tactical coach. He knows how to adapt the team’s game to the pressure of the opponent and the conditions of the field. He’s not afraid to make bold decisions and play in a more direct style when needed. This demonstrates the agility and flexibility of the Napoli team and explains their success. Indeed, Napoli have exercised caution in the transfer market this season, spending just €76.05m and earning €80.45m from the sale of players. The club also lost the legendary Lorenzo Insigne (in Toronto) on a free transfer. Kalidou Koulibaly (€38m at Chelsea) and Fabián Ruiz (€23m at PSG) were the other key departures. With this money Napoli bought Min-Jae Kim (18.5 million from Fenerbahçe), Mathías Olivera (16.5 million from Getafe), Frank Anguissa (16 million from Fulham) and above all Kvaratskhelia (11.5 million from Dynamo Batumi).
II. The cultural weight of victory: football and Neapolitan identity
“SSC Napoli is much more than a football club. It is the spirit of the city.” This is the most quoted statement among football fanatics in Naples. Football in Napoli is worship and devotion. The entire divine liturgy that takes place during football matches perfectly represents the behavior of the southern state capital. The temple and church of the passionate Azzurri fans is the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, formerly the San Paolo stadium, located in the Fuorigrotta district. The name “Fuorigrotta” comes from the fact that people used one or more tunnels (caves) to reach the area. The stadium has hosted SSC Napoli matches since 1959 and underwent renovation works for the FIFA World Cup in 1990. The DAM stadium has hosted both lower division and Champions League matches, and was also the perfect stage for the greatest footballer in the world: El Diez!
III. Maradona’s lasting legacy: a star still shining
Diego Armando Maradona, a Neapolitan born in Argentina, due to a material error, played for Napoli from 1984 to 1991, a period during which the club achieved considerable success. Maradona is revered as the prophet of football, the god of the ball. Citizens have spoken
their devotion to the Argentine champions on several occasions through niches (popular in southern Italy and used for the cult of the Madonna or saints), theatrical performances and dozens of graffiti depicting the “Human D10S”, the “Human God”. The photo on the left shows the most recent graffiti created in the popular district of San Giovanni a Teduccio. The graffiti was created by Jorit, a Neapolitan-Dutch artist.
Under Maradona’s leadership, SSC Napoli won a domestic cup, the Super Cup, the UEFA Europa League and two Italian Scudetto cups. Napoli recently celebrated 30 years since winning their first Scudetto in 1987: the team organized multiple events culminating in a commemorative match between two teams made up of all the champions who played for the club in the 1980s.
Conclusion:
Napoli’s triumph in the 2023 Italian football championship marks a significant moment for both the team and the city of Napoli. The dedication of the “scudetto” to the late Diego Armando Maradona adds an emotional and symbolic layer to this victory. Thanks to their outstanding performance, Napoli consolidated their position as champions and brought immense pride to the Neapolitan community.