Napoli secured Italy’s Serie A championship on Friday with a 2-0 home victory against Cagliari. This win gave them their second league title in three seasons and their fourth league triumph overall. It also crowned coach Antonio Conte as the first manager to win the league with three different clubs, following his successful spells with Inter Milan and Juventus.
Napoli’s captain, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, praised the collective effort of his teammates while singling out Conte’s influence. He noted that the coach’s leadership played a crucial role in restoring the club’s winning tradition. Some managers have achieved titles with two teams, yet Conte’s accomplishment is unmatched. Comparisons have been made with Fabio Capello, who enjoyed similar success with Milan, Roma, and Juventus, though Capello’s later titles were nullified during a major officiating controversy.
Conte assumed charge of a team coming off one of its poorest seasons, marked by a lackluster title defense and several managerial changes. His approach turned around the season dramatically. Following an opening defeat to Hellas Verona, Napoli won eight out of their next nine matches before stringing together a run of seven straight wins from mid-December through early February. These results highlighted the transformation that took place under his guidance.
Throughout the season, the squad faced on-field adjustments. The move of a key winger to a top French club in January did little to slow Napoli, which maintained an exceptional record after his departure. The temporary loss of another prominent striker, loaned to Galatasaray the previous summer, led Conte to rely on contributions from a noted Belgian forward and an industrious Scottish midfielder while assembling one of the league’s most dependable defenses.
Off the field, Napoli faced challenges in cup competitions and did not progress far in their domestic tournament, unlike some top rivals that advanced further in international contests. Looking forward, Napoli is set to return to Europe’s top club competition next season and is planning a summer period aimed at reinforcing the squad. Meanwhile, their competitors, once in pursuit of multiple trophies, now concentrate on a major Champions League final scheduled for May 31 against a strong French opponent.
Conte’s tactical acumen and the team’s resilience have reshaped Napoli’s fortunes, offering renewed optimism among fans. The marked improvement over last season reflects a careful rebuilding process and provides a strong foundation for future challenges.
