The news of Napoli terminating Mario Rui’s contract marks the end of an era for one of the club’s enduring figures, as well as the last remaining player from the Sarri regime. Rui spent over seven years with the club and contributed to both the 2022-23 Scudetto and 2020 Coppa Italia victories. As Napoli continues to evolve, it’s worth revisiting the iconic 2017-2018 squad. The team earned 91 points in Serie A, the most in the club’s storied history. Managed by Maurizio Sarri, the team stacked with club legends like Dries Mertens, Marek Hamsik and Kalidou Koulibaly, thrilled fans with its breathtaking attacking football and came tantalizingly close to winning the Scudetto. Here’s a look at where the stars of that memorable campaign are now.
Goalkeepers
- Pepe Reina: The Spanish World Cup winner joined Como from Villareal in the summer of 2024. Leaving Napoli for good after the 2018 season, Reina made five appearances for AC Milan across a two year spell, which included a loan to Aston Villa, before briefly reuniting with Sarri at Lazio. At 42, the former Napoli shot stopper continues to impress with his longevity.
- Luigi Sepe: At 36, Sepe is with nearby Salernitana, continuing his career in Serie B as a reliable shot-stopper.
- Rafael Cabral: Without a club, the Brazilian goalkeeper is exploring his next steps after his career in Europe ended with a move back to Brazil.
- Maurizio Schaeper: The former youth prospect is currently unattached, searching for opportunities to reignite his career.
Defenders
- Kalidou Koulibaly: One of Napoli’s greatest-ever defenders, Koulibaly left Napoli for Chelsea in the summer of 2022, then joined Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia in 2023. Koulibali left the club on good terms, allowing Napoli to earn a transfer fee that was reinvested in the Scudetto-winning squad and often praises the club in media statements.
- Raúl Albiol: The Spanish veteran joined Villarreal in 2019 and continues to impress at age 39, leading his side to the 2021 Europa League title and a Champions League semifinal the following year.
- Christian Maggio: After making over 300 appearances for Napoli, Maggio signed with Serie B club Benevento following the 2018 season. The long-serving right-back is now retired after a stellar career, leaving a legacy as one of Napoli’s most dependable players.
- Elseid Hysaj: The versatile Albanian full-back now plies his trade for Lazio. He left Napoli after the 2021 season, where some questionable defending in his final game caused some to blame him for Napoli failure to qualify for the Champions League that year.
- Faouzi Ghoulam: Without a club, Ghoulam’s future in football remains uncertain, though his contributions to Napoli are fondly remembered.
- Nikola Maksimović: Maksimović now plays for Montpellier HSC in Ligue 1, solidifying his position in European football.
- Vlad Chiricheș: Back in Romania, Chiricheș represents FCSB, contributing to his hometown club.
- Lorenzo Tonelli: Recently retired, Tonelli concluded a respectable career in Italy’s top tiers.
Midfielders
- Jorginho: The Italian maestro moved to the premier league, first with Chelsea and now at Arsenal where he is a key figure in Mikel Arteta’s squad. Napoli fans are used to missed penalties and Jorginho’s crucial misses led to Italy’s eventual 2022 World Cup qualifying failure.
- Allan: The Brazilian midfielder currently represents Botafogo in his home country, adding grit to their midfield. Napoli sold the once highly valued defensive midfielder to Everton for €28 million Euros in the summer of 2020.
- Marek Hamšik: A true Napoli legend, Hamšik retired in 2023, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest players in the club’s history. Hamsik now serves as an assistant to former Napoli coach Francesco Calzona with the Slovakia national team.
- Piotr Zieliński: Zieliński now comes off the bench for Inter Milan. The Scuddeto winner left Napoli on a free transfer in the summer of 2024.
- Marko Rog: Rog currently plays for Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb on loan from Cagliari. In the 2017-18 season, all 28 of his Serie A appearances were from the bench, with Sarri nothing if not consistent in his use of substitutions.
- Amadou Diawara: Diawara is with Anderlecht in Belgium’s top flight, continuing his professional journey.
Attackers
- Dries Mertens: The clubs all-time leading scorer joined Galatasaray, becoming a key player in the Turkish Süper Lig and delighting fans with his attacking instincts. His heart still belongs to Napoli, naming his son Ciro; the very Neapolitan nickname that he was given by fans and teammates.
- José Callejón: Callejón now plies his trade with Marbella FC in Spain’s second division, closing out a distinguished career. Callejón played for Napoli from 2013 to 2020, making 349 appearances and scoring 82 goals. After leaving Napoli, the former Real Madrid man joined Fiorentina in October 2020, then moved to Granada in July 2022.
- Lorenzo Insigne: The diminutive winger and former Napoli captain moved to Toronto FC in Major League Soccer, where he brings his flair and creativity to North America.
- Duván Zapata: The Colombian striker has bounced around Serie A at Udinese, Sampdoria, Atalanta and now Torino. At 33, he remains one of Serie A’s most powerful and effective forwards when healthy.
- Arkadiusz Milik: Milik represents Juventus, contributing as a squad member in both Serie A and European competitions. The oft-injured striker was frozen out of the Napoli squad following the purchase of Victor Ozimhen and Milik’s subsequent refusal to sign a new contract.
- Adam Ounas: In 2022, after multiple loan spells out of Napoli, Ounas transferred to Lille, where he played until 2024 before moving to Al Sadd SC in Qatar. During December of 2022, Ounas scored the third goal in a 4-1 friendly victory over Napoli during the World Cup break.
Manager
- Maurizio Sarri: Sarri is not currently managing a team but has expressed interest in returning to the Premier League. After leaving Napoli in 2018, Sarri managed Chelsea, winning the UEFA Europa League, and then Juventus, securing a Serie A title. He later coached Lazio from 2021 to 2024, finishing as runners up to Napoli in the 2022-23 campaign. Some in the city reminisce about the team’s beautiful play under Sarri, while others hold resentment for his time spent at Juventus.
The 2017/18 Napoli squad holds a special place in the hearts of Napoli fans, not only for its historic points tally but also for the artistry and passion it displayed on the pitch. While some players have transitioned into new roles or hung up their boots, others continue to shine across the football world. This “golden era” for Napoli will forever be remembered as a high watermark in the club’s illustrious history.
