Today marks 10 years since Napoli completed the signing of Marek Hamsik from Brescia.
The Partenopei had just won promotion to Serie A for the first time since 2001, finishing six points behind Juventus, who were in the second division after the Calciopoli scandal.
In an effort to reinforce the squad for their forthcoming top-flight campaign, the club turned to a 19-year-old Slovakian who had impressed in Serie B with Brescia – Marek Hamsik.
The midfielder signed a five-year contract, with his arrival officially announced on June 28, 2007.
Today marks 10 years since Napoli completed the signing of Marek Hamsik from Brescia.
The Partenopei had just won promotion to Serie A for the first time since 2001, finishing six points behind Juventus, who were in the second division after the Calciopoli scandal.
In an effort to reinforce the squad for their forthcoming top-flight campaign, the club turned to a 19-year-old Slovakian who had impressed in Serie B with Brescia – Marek Hamsik.
The midfielder signed a five-year contract, with his arrival officially announced on June 28, 2007.
“I am very happy and proud to play for such a prestigious club as Napoli,” said Hamsik at the time. “I cannot wait to wear this famous shirt and meet my teammates.”
He immediately endeared himself to the San Paolo crowd, scoring against Cesena in the Coppa Italia on his debut before getting his first Serie A goal against Sampdoria on September 16.
The 2007-8 season saw Hamsik score 10 goals in all competitions, and he has only twice failed to reach double figures in the subsequent campaigns.
The Slovakian secured his heroic status in the 2012 Coppa Italia final, scoring the second goal against Juventus to win a first trophy for the Vesuviani in 22 years.
Hamsik won a second Coppa in 2014, this time lifting the trophy as captain, and a year later he turned down a move to Juventus.
In August last year he signed a new contract with Napoli, tying him to the club until 2020, and the midfielder has been clear that he wants to finish his career in Campania.
Today, 10 years after his signing, there’s no question that Hamsik is a club legend.
As well as helping his side to their first two trophies since the Diego Maradona era, Hamsik needs just two more goals to catch El Diego at the top of the scoring chart.
He will almost certainly match and then surpass Maradona’s record goal total next season, while another 60 appearances will allow him to take the record for appearances too.
In the season which just finished, Hamsik played 49 games and scored 15 goals, so it’s not unreasonable to assume that in 18 months time he’ll hold Napoli’s record for both goals and appearances.
President Aurelio De Laurentiis paid €5.5m to sign the young Slovakian a decade ago, and it may be the best money he’s ever spent.