Napoli's all time best XI consists of some all-time greats
Italian giants Napoli have been home to some of the greatest footballers we've ever seen.
Well, if you didn't already know, Diego Maradona once glorified the beautiful city of Naples, and let us assure you that the great Argentine wasn't the only one.
Over the years, some of the most technically gifted footballers have turned out in the famous blue kit of Napoli and today, we attempt at creating the greatest XI in their history!
Getty ImagesGK: Dino Zoff
The only Italian player to have won both a European Championship and a World Cup in his career is Dino Zoff. The legendary shot-stopper joined Napoli from Mantova in 1967 and went on to make 143 Serie A appearances for the club.
Zoff's most impressive career achievements came at Juventus, where he won nine trophies after joining them in 1972.
Three other Napoli goalkeepers deserve recognition too.
First is Ottavio Bugatti. The Italian shot-stopper arrived at Napoli from SPAL in 1953 and made 256 appearances for them until 1961 before joining Inter.
The second goalie is Luciano Castellini. The Italian goalkeeper played 267 games for Torino in all competitions before moving to Napoli in 1978. In Naples, Castellini made 203 appearances for the club in Serie A. He also held the record for going unbeaten for 531 consecutive minutes. This record was later broken by Dino Zoff.
Third would be Pepe Reina. The Spaniard initially joined Napoli on loan from Liverpool in 2013 for a season. Bayern Munich signed him in 2014, but after just one season there, he returned to Naples in 2015, making over a century of appearances for the club until 2018. Reina won the 2013-14 Coppa Italia with Napoli.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesRB: Giuseppe Bruscolotti
One of the best players and the captain of Napoli's maiden Serie A title-winning team in 1987, Giuseppe Bruscolotti takes the right-back spot in this dream team.
The defender arrived in Naples from Sorrento in 1972 and stayed at the club for 16 years, making over 500 appearances for the club across all competitions, with 387 of them coming in Serie A.
He won five trophies in Naples, winning a league title, two Coppa Italia trophies and an Anglo-Italian League Cup.
There's a lot of competition for this spot in Napoli's Dream Team as three other players deserve a mention.
First would be Christian Maggio who joined Napoli from Sampdoria in 2008. He spent a decade in Naples, making over 300 appearances and winning two Coppa Italia titles as well as a Supercoppa Italiana.
Secondly, there's Giovanni Di Lorenzo. The Euro 2020-winning right-back joined Napoli from Empoli in 2019 and has made over 120 appearances for the club. He was part of the team which won the 2019-20 Coppa Italia.
And finally, there's Elseid Hysaj. Like Di Lorenzo, Albanian international Hysaj also arrived from Empoli, but in 2015. He stayed in Naples until 2021, making 223 appearances for the club.
Getty ImagesCB: Alessandro Renica
Adept in playing as a sweeper as well as a full-back on occasions, Alessandro Renica won several trophies during his time at Napoli.
The Italian defender joined Napoli from Sampdoria in 1985 and made 136 appearances for the club. His tactical excellence and leadership lead the Naples-based club to win two Serie A titles, a Uefa Cup, a Coppa Italia and a Supercoppa Italiana while he was present in defence.
There are a couple of other centre-backs who could feature here, starting with Kalidou Koulibaly. The Senegalese defender joined Napoli in 2014 and spent eight years at the club before joining Chelsea in 2022. In Naples, he played over 300 games, winning the Supercoppa Italiana in 2014 and the Coppa Italia in 2019-20.
The next centre-back worthy of a mention here is Paolo Cannavaro. The Italian defender graduated from Napoli's academy and even made two senior appearances for them in his first spell before joining Parma in 1999. In 2006, he returned to Napoli and went on to make 236 appearances for the club until 2014, including becoming club captain and helping Napoli being promoted to Serie A in 2007.
Getty ImagesCB: Moreno Ferrario
Napoli's third-highest appearance maker of all time, Moreno Ferrario joined the club from Varese in 1977, played 311 games for them in Serie A and made close to 400 appearances in all competitions until 1988.
At the club, he helped them win a Serie A title and a Coppa Italia in the 1986-87 season. Ferrario joined Roma in 1988.
Two other stars could also feature in our dream team at centre-back.
First being Raul Albiol. The Spaniard joined Napoli from Real Madrid in 2013 and stayed there for six years, making 180 appearances in Serie A. He won a Coppa Italia and a Supercoppa Italiana during his time there.
Secondly, Hugo Campagnaro arrived in Naples from Sampdoria in 2009 and stayed there until 2013, making 143 appearances for the club in all competitions between 2009 and 2013. He won a Coppa Italia in the 2011-12 season with Napoli.