1997–98 SSC Napoli season

S.S.C. Napoli crashed out of Serie A following a disastrous season. It only clinched 14 points out of 34 matches, despite having the services of several experienced Serie A players. Napoli went through four coaches over the course of the season, and hardly took a point in the second half of the season. Given the disastrous form of the team, Claudio Bellucci's ten goals were impressive, while thought top scorer Igor Protti was one of the largest disappointments of the entire series. The lack of defensive skills cost Napoli many points, and more than two goals were conceded on average. This was despite Roberto Ayala's brilliance, which earned him a transfer to Milan.

Napoli

1997–98 season
President	Corrado Ferlaino
Manager	Bortolo Mutti (until 6 October 1997) Carlo Mazzone (until 24 November 1997) Giovanni Galeone (until 9 February 1998) Vincenzo Montefusco
Stadium	San Paolo
Serie A	18th (in 1998-99 Serie B)
Coppa Italia	Last 16
Top goalscorer	Claudio Bellucci (10)
Home colours Away colours Third colours
← 1996–97 1998–99 →

Only eight years following Napoli's second title, the club seemed to be in terminal decline, with hard work being needed to return to the top domestic league. Given that the club had not been relegated since a bankruptcy in 1964, the relegation was a shock, by the extremely poor season.

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  ITA Giuseppe Taglialatela — GK  ITA Raffaele Di Fusco — GK  ITA Ferdinando Coppola — DF  ARG Roberto Ayala — DF  ITA Francesco Baldini — DF  ITA Luigi Malafronte — DF  ITA Mauro Facci — DF  BEL Bertrand Crasson — DF  ITA Raffaele Sergio — DF  ITA Luigi Panarelli — DF  FRA William Prunier — DF  ITA Guglielmo Stendardo — DF  ITA Mirko Taccola — DF  ITA Mirko Conte — MF  ITA Marco Zamboni

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  ITA Raffaele Longo — MF  ITA Francesco Turrini — MF  ITA Roberto Goretti — MF  ITA Massimiliano Esposito — MF  ITA Giuseppe Giannini — MF  ITA Fabio Rossitto — MF  FRA Reynald Pedros — MF  ITA Gennaro Scarlato — MF  ITA Massimiliano Allegri — MF  CRO Aljoša Asanović — MF  ITA Angelo Cimadomo — MF  ITA Luca Altomare — FW  ITA Claudio Bellucci — FW  ITA Igor Protti — FW  ITA Gennaro Scarlato — FW  YUG Damir Stojak — FW  ITA Salvatore Bruno — FW  ARG José Luis Calderón

Transfers

In
Pos.	Name	from	Type
FW	Igor Protti	Lazio	loan
MF	Fabio Rossitto	Udinese
DF	Raffaele Sergio	Udinese
FW	Claudio Bellucci	Venezia
FW	José Luis Calderón	Independiente
DF	Mirko Conte	Piacenza
MF	Giuseppe Giannini	Sturm Graz
DF	William Prunier	Manchester United
DF	Mauro Facci	Salernitana

Out
Pos.	Name	To	Type
MF	Beto	Flamengo
FW	Nicola Caccia	Atalanta
MF	Alain Boghossian	Sampdoria
DF	Francesco Colonnese	Inter
DF	André Cruz	A.C. Milan
FW	Alfredo Aglietti	Verona
FW	Dino Fava Passaro	Acireale
MF	Fabio Pecchia	Juventus
DF	Mauro Milanese	Parma
FW	Caio	Santos

Winter

In
Pos.	Name	from	Type
FW	Damir Stojak	Vojvodina
MF	Reynald Pedros	Parma
MF	Massimiliano Allegri	Padova
FW	Aljoša Asanović	Derby County

Out
Pos.	Name	To	Type
FW	José Luis Calderón	Independiente
DF	Mirko Conte	Vicenza
DF	Mirko Taccola	Lucchese
DF	Alessandro Sbrizzo	Padova
DF	William Prunier	Hearts
MF	Massimiliano Esposito	Hellas Verona
DF	Marco Zamboni	Chievo
MF	Giuseppe Giannini	Lecce

Competitions

Serie A

Main article: 1997–98 Serie A

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
14	Vicenza	34	9	9	16	36	61	−25	36
15	Brescia (R)	34	9	8	17	45	63	−18	35	Relegation to Serie B
16	Atalanta (R)	34	7	11	16	25	48	−23	32
17	Lecce (R)	34	6	8	20	32	72	−40	26
18	Napoli (R)	34	2	8	24	25	76	−51	14

Source: 1997–98 Serie A, RSSSF.com, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored; 6) Draw. (Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played).^[1]
(R) Relegated

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34
Ground	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H
Result	L	W	D	L	L	L	L	L	L	D	L	L	L	L	D	L	L	D	L	W	L	L	L	D	D	L	L	L	L	L	D	L	L	D
Position	11	9	8	12	14	14	17	17	17	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18

Source: Competitive matches
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; P = Postponed;   = Leader, 1998–99 UEFA Champions League Group stage;   = 1998–99 UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying round;   = 1998–99 UEFA Cup First round;   = Qualification to Intertoto Cup second round;   = Qualification to Intertoto Cup third round;   = 1998–99 Serie B

Matches

Lazio v Napoli

31 August 1997 1	Lazio	2–0	Napoli	Roma
	Mancini 68' Pancaro 76'			Stadium: Olimpico

Napoli v Empoli

14 September 1997 2	Napoli	2–1	Empoli	Napoli
	Bellucci 33' Protti 48'		C. Esposito 77'	Stadium: San Paolo

Vicenza v Napoli

21 September 1997 3	Vicenza	1–1	Napoli	Vicenza
	Di Napoli 17'		Turrini 18'

Napoli v Atalanta

28 September 1997 4	Napoli	0–1	Atalanta	Napoli
			Caccia 50'	Stadium: San Paolo

Roma v Napoli

05 October 1997 5	Roma	6–2	Napoli	Roma
	Candela 16' Gautieri 34' Balbo 51, 60, 89' Di Francesco 53'		Altomare 71' Bellucci 87' (pen.)	Stadium: Olimpico

Napoli v Internazionale

18 October 1997 6	Napoli	0–2	Internazionale	Napoli
			Galante 10' Turrini 69' (o.g.)	Stadium: San Paolo

Bologna v Napoli

02 November 1997 7	Bologna	5–1	Napoli	Bologna
	R. Baggio 48' (pen.) 90' 90 + 5' (pen.) K. Andersson 55, 90 + 3'		Goretti 14'	Stadium: Renato Dall'Ara

Napoli v Juventus

09 November 1997 8	Napoli	1–2	Juventus	Napoli
	Bellucci 55'		Zidane 38' Fonseca 88'	Stadium: San Paolo

Lecce v Napoli

23 November 1997 9	Lecce	2–0	Napoli	Lecco
	M. Rossi 50' Palmieri 61'

Napoli v Fiorentina

30 November 1997 10	Napoli	1–1	Fiorentina	Napoli
	Turrini 34'		28' Firicano	Stadium: San Paolo

Piacenza v Napoli

07 December 1997 11	Piacenza	1–0	Napoli	Piacenza
	Rastelli 87'

Napoli v Parma

14 December 1997 12	Napoli	0–4	Parma	Napoli
			Blomqvist 18' D. Baggio 53' Crespo 65, 73'	Stadium: San Paolo

Sampdoria v Napoli

21 December 1997 13	Sampdoria	6–3	Napoli	Genova
	Boghossian 35' Montella 42' (pen.) 61' 90' (pen.) Klinsmann 73' Laigle 76'		Bellucci 15' Protti 70' Rossitto 78'	Stadium: Luigi Ferraris

Napoli v Milan

04 January 1998 14	Napoli	1–2	Milan	Napoli
	Bellucci 75'		Ganz 52' Leonardo 71'	Stadium: San Paolo

Udinese v Napoli

11 January 1998 15	Udinese	1–1	Napoli	Udine
	Crasson 90 + 2' (o.g.)		Bellucci 27'

Napoli v Brescia

18 January 1998 16	Napoli	0–3	Brescia	Napoli
			Pirlo 13' Koźmiński 53' Diana 90 + 3'	Stadium: San Paolo

Bari v Napoli

25 January 1998 17	Bari	2–0	Napoli	Bari
	Marcolini 74' Sala 90 + 3'

Napoli v Lazio

01 February 1998 18	Napoli	0–0	Lazio	Napoli
				Stadium: San Paolo

Empoli v Napoli

08 February 1998 19	Empoli	5–0	Napoli	Empoli
	C. Esposito 24' Cappellini 37' Pane 50' Florijančič 70, 75'

Napoli v Vicenza

11 February 1998 20	Napoli	2–0	Vicenza	Napoli
	Turrini 43' (pen.) Stojak 47'			Stadium: San Paolo

Atalanta v Napoli

15 February 1998 21	Atalanta	1–0	Napoli	Atalanta
	Lucarelli 16'

Napoli v Roma

22 February 1998 22	Napoli	0–2	Roma	Napoli
			Totti 54' Di Biagio 62'	Stadium: San Paolo

Internazionale v Napoli

28 February 1998 23	Internazionale	2–0	Napoli	Milano
	Zamorano 63' Ronaldo 73' (pen.)			Stadium: Giuseppe Meazza

Napoli v Bologna

08 March 1998 24	Napoli	0–0	Bologna	Napoli
				Stadium: San Paolo

Juventus v Napoli

14 March 1998 25	Juventus	2–2	Napoli	Torino
	Del Piero 46' Zalayeta 75'		Turrini 69' Protti 90 + 2'	Stadium: delle Alpi

Napoli v Lecce

22 March 1998 26	Napoli	2–4	Lecce	Napoli
	Protti 35' (pen.) Altomare 73'		Casale 2' Palmieri 29' Ayala 75' (o.g.) Atelkin 90 + 3'	Stadium: San Paolo

Fiorentina v Napoli

29 March 1998 27	Fiorentina	4–0	Napoli	Firenze
	Batistuta 40, 67' Robbiati 80' Edmundo 86'			Stadium: Artemio Franchi

Napoli v Piacenza

05 April 1998 28	Napoli	1–2	Piacenza	Napoli
	Bellucci 51'		Scienza 34' Dionigi 84' (pen.)	Stadium: San Paolo

Parma v Napoli

11 April 1998 29	Parma	3–1	Napoli	Parma
	Crespo 3, 86' Apolloni 76'		Bellucci 69'	Stadium: Il Tardini

Napoli v Sampdoria

19 April 1998 30	Napoli	0–2	Sampdoria	Napoli
			Crasson 33' (o.g.) Laigle 87'	Stadium: San Paolo

Milan v Napoli

26 April 1998 31	Milan	0–0	Napoli	Milano
				Stadium: San Siro

Napoli v Udinese

03 May 1998 32	Napoli	1–3	Udinese	Napoli
	Turrini 12' (pen.)		Poggi 4' Bierhoff 45, 87'	Stadium: San Paolo

Brescia v Napoli

10 May 1998 33	Brescia	2–1	Napoli	Brescia
	Adani 57' Neri 81'		Bellucci 56'

Napoli v Bari

16 May 1998 34	Napoli	2–2	Bari	Napoli
	Bellucci 13' Stojak 48'		Guerrero 6' Volpi 37'	Stadium: San Paolo

Statistics

Players statistics

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		1997-98 Serie A
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	ITA	Giuseppe Taglialatela	28	-55	27+1	-55
6	DF	ARG	Roberto Ayala	28	0	28	0
15	DF	ITA	Francesco Baldini	30	0	30	0
22	DF	BEL	Bertrand Crasson	22	0	19+3	0
14	MF	ITA	Luca Altomare	24	2	16+8	2
8	MF	ITA	Raffaele Longo	29	0	24+5	0
7	MF	ITA	Francesco Turrini	27	5	26+1	5
18	MF	ITA	Roberto Goretti	26	1	25+1	1
4	MF	ITA	Fabio Rossitto	28	1	28	1
9	FW	ITA	Claudio Bellucci	27	10	27	10
10	FW	ITA	Igor Protti	27	4	24+3	4
12	GK	ITA	Raffaele Di Fusco	7	-19	5+2	-19
5	DF	ITA	Mauro Facci	17	0	17	0
3	DF	ITA	Raffaele Sergio	12	0	11+1	0
16	DF	ITA	Luigi Malafronte	10	0	9+1	0
30	MF	CRO	Aljoša Asanović	15	0	8+7	0
31	FW	YUG	Damir Stojak	13	2	8+5	2
13	DF	ITA	Luigi Panarelli	17	0	6+11	0
19	MF	ITA	Gennaro Scarlato	19	0	6+13	0
28	MF	ITA	Massimiliano Allegri	7	0	6+1	0
25	MF	FRA	Reynald Pedros	3	0	1+2	0
23	GK	ITA	Ferdinando Coppola	1	-2	1	-2
29	FW	ITA	Salvatore Bruno	3	0	1+2	0
17	MF	ITA	Angelo Cimadomo	2	0	0+2	0
33	DF	ITA	Guglielmo Stendardo	1	0	0+1	0
32	DF	ITA	Emanuele Troise	0	0	0	0
Players transferred out during the season
24	DF	ITA	Mirko Conte	9	0	8+1	0
27	MF	ITA	Giuseppe Giannini	4	0	4	0
26	MF	ITA	Marco Zamboni	4	0	3+1	0
11	FW	ARG	José Luis Calderón	6	0	2+4	0
2	DF	FRA	William Prunier	3	0	2+1	0
20	MF	ITA	Massimiliano Esposito	4	0	1+3	0
21	DF	ITA	Alessandro Sbrizzo	2	0	0+2	0

• Source: http://calcio-seriea.net/allenatori_squadra/1997/1135/