Fernando De Napoli is a former Italian midfielder who excelled during the 80's and 90's. Whether it was coincidence or destiny is unknown, but the Italian's greatest phase in football came at the club with his very name.
De Napoli spent the entirety of his club football career in Italy, most notable with Napoli. He was a part of the club's golden generation at the time, which ended up winning 4 major titles in 4 seasons.
The Italian had also earned more than 50 caps for the national side as well, representing his country at two FIFA World Cups (1986 and 1990), and at UEFA Euro 1988.
We will be having a look at De Napoli's style of play and career in this article.
Fernando De Napoli Player Profile and Playing Style
De Napoli was a complete midfielder, who was capable of operating in either central or defensive midfielder. The Italian excelled when it came to winning the ball back, which helped his creative midfielder teammates to thrive. In addition to this, De Napoli's ability to carve out accurate long balls and his exquisite range of passing made him a top-class deep-lying playmaker as well. His versatility doesn't end here, as he was occasionally deployed as a winger as well during his career.
Whether it was pace, work rate, or even technique, De Napoli had it all that was required in a top midfielder. His man-marking abilities proved to be a menace for forwards, as he occasionally broke opposition play, and led the team in transitioning from defence to attack.
His shooting ability was yet another dangerous weapon in his Arsenal, as De Napoli was capable of hitting powerful and accurate long-range shots. He was also known for making attacking runs from deep, as he charged forward in search of a goal or final pass.
All these traits saw De Napoli play quite aggressively, which led to the player being nicknamed as "Rambo" from the Napoli fans throughout his career.
Besides his excellence as a player, De Napoli was an epitome of fairness and sportsmanship. This also led to him being a perfect example for his teammates.
Fernando De Napoli at Napoli: The Golden Era
De Napoli's football career began in Serie C, as he played for Italian side Rimini Calcio under manager Arrigo Sacchi. A year later, he made the switch to Serie A by joining Avellino.
After 3 years at Avellino, De Napoli took the career changing decision of joining Napoli in 1986. It was at Naples where De Napoli enjoyed the dream phase of his career, cementing himself as an integral part of their golden period. He was partnered in midfield alongside Salvatore Bagni, with the duo serving as the defensive walls to help a certain Diego Maradona flourish in his playmaker role.
During his 6 years at Napoli, the Italian won the scudetto in 1987 and 1990, the Coppa Italia in 1987, the UEFA Cup in 1989, and the Supercoppa Italiana in 1990.
After his glorious run at Napoli, Rambo jumped ship to Milan in 1992. De Napoli failed to establish himself a first-team regular during his time with the Rossoneri, earning only nine league appearances in two seasons for the club.
However, the move was a massive success in terms of silverware. He won the scudetto twice (1992-93, 1993-94) , another Supercoppa Italiana, and two major European titles with the 1993–94 UEFA Champions League and 1994 UEFA Super Cup.
De Napoli joined Reggiana in July 1994, where he spent the final 3 years of his career. He announced his retirement in 1997, and joined the club's coaching staff. His association with football ended in 2005, as he departed from their coaching staff and bid farewell to his wonderful connection with football.
