Fernando De Napoli
The tenacious midfielder who anchored Napoli's golden era alongside Maradona.
via Wikipedia: Fernando De Napoli · see source
Fernando De Napoli (Italian pronunciation: [ferˈnando de ˈnaːpoli]; born 15 March 1964) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder or winger. He is best known in club football for being a regular in the Napoli team that won 4 major trophies between 1986 and 1990. During his six-year spell in Naples, De Napoli won the scudetto in 1987 and 1990, the Coppa Italia in 1987, the UEFA Cup in 1989, and the Supercoppa Italiana in 1990. He often played alongside Salvatore Bagni in midfield, serving as a defensive foil to the club's star playmaker Diego Maradona.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 15 March 1964
- Birthplace
- Chiusano di San Domenico, Italy
- Height
- 1.78 m / 5 ft 10 in
- Position
- Midfielder
- Total caps
- 347
- Total goals
- 13
Lore & Background
De Napoli moved to Campania neighbours S.S.C. Napoli in 1986 at the beginning of what would become the most celebrated period in the club's history. His tenacity and combative playing style earned him the nickname "Rambo" from the Napoli fans throughout his career.
Reader's Guide
A versatile and well-rounded midfielder, De Napoli was usually deployed as either a central or defensive midfielder. He was adept at winning back possession to support his more creative team-mates while also functioning as a deep-lying playmaker thanks to his range of passing and accurate long balls. He was also deployed on the wing on occasion. A quick, hard-working, and tenacious player, with good technique, he was known in particular for his notable stamina, as well as his excellent man-marking ability, which endowed him with the ability to break down the opposition's play, and subsequently transition the ball from defence to attack.
He also possessed a powerful and accurate long-range shot and was known for his ability to make attacking runs and charge forward with the ball from deeper areas of the pitch. In addition to his playing ability, he was also known for his fairness and professionalism, often leading his teammates by example.
Did You Know?
- De Napoli won his first cap for Italy on 11 May 1986 in a 2-0 win over China, a game played in Naples.
- He scored his only international goal against Argentina in 1987.
- He made only 14 league appearances in two seasons at Milan (9 in 1992–93, 5 in 1993–94) and was not registered for the 1994 Champions League, so he did not win it.
- De Napoli began his career under manager Arrigo Sacchi at Rimini Calcio in Serie C.
More in Legendary Players & Icons
Elsewhere in Napoli
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced