S.S.C. Napoli

S.S.C. Napoli is an Italian football club based in Naples, Campania. The club was formed in 1926 and spent most of its history in Serie A, often being the sole representative of the Italian South in the country's top division.

The club had recently undergone a name change to; Napoli Soccer in August 2004 under Aurelio De Laurentiis, a famous film producer and nephew of Dino De Laurentiis, after the club had gone bankrupt. On 23 May, 2006, De Laurentiis restored the club's name back to S.S.C. Napoli.

Napoli play in sky blue shirts with white shorts, the club is nicknamed Azzurri (blues, as is the Italian national side) and Partenopei.

History

A.C. Napoli (Associazione Calcio Napoli) was formed in 1926 as Internaples (after the marger of two exisisting clubs: Internazionale Napoli and Naples) and spent most of its history in Serie A. Top scorer of the first World Cup Guillermo Stábile played at Napoli during the 1930s. The club changed its name to S.S.C. Napoli in 1963.

Although unable to win Serie A during the earlier years, Napoli were victorious in the Coppa Italia, winning the competition twice in 1962 and 1976, they also reached the semi-finals of the competition in Cup Winners' Cup semi-final in 1977. And they won the Coppa delle Alpi in 1966. World Cup winning goalkeeper Dino Zoff had a spell at the club between 1964 and 1972.

It wouldn't be until Argentine Diego Maradona joined the club in 1984 that Napoli were truly put on the world football map. While the influential Argentine was at the club, Napoli went on to win; Two scudetti in 1987 and 1990 (a side which also featured Gianfranco Zola), and the UEFA Cup in 1989. They also won the Coppa Italia in 1987.

Maradona left the club in 1990, the following year the club have won Supercoppa Italiana. Though the club started a slow decline from then on. A first relegation to Serie B came in 1998, and Napoli fans had to wait till 2000 to see their team going back to Italian top division.

Napoli dropped again to Serie B in 2001, but that was not the worst to come. With a debt estimated up to 70 million euros, the club became bankrupt in August of 2004. A new club, Napoli Soccer, was born to ensure the city of Naples would not be left without a football team.

Recent times

In the 2005/2006 season, the club was competing in the Serie C1/B. Despite playing in such a low division, S.S.C. Napoli is among clubs with the largest fan base in Italy, having higher average attendances than some Serie A clubs.

On April 15, 2006, Napoli was promoted to Serie B after a 2-0 win at home to Perugia. This win also secured Napoli as 2005/2006 Serie C champions. It is also noted that Napoli achieved the record for highest attendance in a Serie C match with more than 51,000 spectators.