They say that Scudetti won outside Milan and Turin are worth at least double, so Napoli‘s third triumph is a truly amazing achievement: Giancarlo Rinaldi tries his best to make an All-Time XI out of three very special sides.
Their names will be celebrated for decades to come. If the veneration of their predecessors is anything to go by, nobody in Naples will forget this year’s title heroes any time soon. But how do they stack up against the stars of yesteryear?
It is never easy to compare eras and it always feels a little foolish to try to put together an all-time XI. To keep a semi-credible formation while trying to crowbar in the finest players is an impossible task in truth. Still, that won’t stop me from trying. Here is a side which would surely have been a lot of fun to watch – apologies to the many great players who had to miss out. This side would play in a very adventurous 3-5-2 formation.
Claudio Garella (GK) – To win a title outside of Italy’s giants once would be impressive enough but the idiosyncratic goalkeeper actually managed it twice – once with Verona and then with Napoli. Prone to the odd calamity, great with his feet and nicknamed after a comic-book hero, he was a larger-than-life character who sadly passed away last year and often worth the admission price – in good and bad – on his own.
Kim Min-jae (CB) – There may have been better bargain signings in Serie A but surely not many. Sorely missed for their Champions League return game with Milan, the South Korean has earned plaudits aplenty this season with his impressive reading of the game, strength in the tackle and ability to be his side’s first line of attack. Most teams would have missed Kalidou Koulibaly – but not this one.
Alessandro Renica (CB) – The leggy libero was a stalwart of the first title win and was still in the squad for the second. He missed just one league game of that 1986-87 campaign and even chipped in with a goal to help defeat Juventus in another rare season – just like this one – where they did the double over the Bianconeri. Signed from Sampdoria he would help the Partenopei to win the Coppa Italia, Italian Super Cup and the UEFA Cup with his outstanding tactical awareness.
Ciro Ferrara (CB) – There could be no team like this without a Neapolitan player and the top class defender would be impossible to leave out. An aggressive and athletic man marker, he could also play on the flank when needed but was at his best when cancelling out an opposition striker. He would win many more honours with Juventus but those triumphs with his home city remained special indeed.
Fernando De Napoli (CDM) – There would likely be plenty of hard graft for the defensive midfielders in this flair-filled side and who better than the man who carried the very name of his team? A battler with a great gift for winning possession he formed an essential platform to allow his other more creative teammates to shine. Another double Scudetto winner.
Stanislav Lobotka (CDM) – If you are looking for a star schemer to play deep for your side then look no further. Something of an under-the-radar hit in this year’s triumph, there were games where he appeared to be everywhere on the pitch, winning possession and never, ever giving the ball away. Those are not bad skills to possess. If you want a more nostalgic feel to the side, though, feel free to slot in the amazing Alemao in his place.
Diego Maradona (CAM) – It will surprise nobody to see the Golden Child at the very heart of this team. The man who showed Napoli how to pinch some silverware off the traditional northern powerhouses is revered to this day. Skilful and sneaky, powerful and poised, brilliant and balanced – we can argue all day about whether he was the greatest of all time but he surely has to be brought into that debate. Without Diego, they might still be awaiting a title in Naples as he paved the way for all future success.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (LW) – If anyone put the spirit of Diego into the modern-day team then it was undoubtedly the talented Georgian. Not as magical as his predecessor (spoiler alert – nobody was) he was nonetheless a brilliant acquisition to fill the gap left by Lorenzo Insigne. Unpredictable and imaginative, he was also a regular goalscorer and assist provider throughout a glorious march to the title.
Gianfranco Zola (RW) – Although he was not by any means a regular in the second Scudetto season, the little Sardinian earns his place as the successor to the Maradona role. He would have to play a little out of position in order to allow Diego to play through the middle but we guess the former Chelsea man would not mind. A brilliant dribbler, inventor, free-kick taker and goalscorer – what gifts he would bring to the team.
Antonio Careca (ST) – There were plenty of other contenders – Bruno Giordano and Andrea Carnevale in particular – but the style and swagger of the Brazilian clinched his place. A smooth operator with a coolness in front of goal that was second to none, he also had an almost telepathic understanding with Maradona at times. Worth inclusion for his goal celebrations alone.
Victor Osimhen (ST) – A powerhouse of the present-day side, the Nigerian has matured into one of the best frontmen in Europe. His attitude is great and inspires others while his pace and aerial prowess must make him a nightmare to mark. No wonder they are selling just about anything with his trademark facemask on it in Naples right now. The goals that delivered the third title are guaranteed to give you a great deal of notoriety.
Giancarlo Rinaldi is the author of a number of books on Italian football. He is also half of the Rigore! Podcast team. You can follow him on Twitter @ginkers.