Twelve clubs have changed manager, including six of the top eight, in a season with more questions than certainties
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t did not take long after Napoli had won Serie A in May for some journalists to ask whether their manager would desert them. Antonio Conte had grumbled for months about transfer decisions. Even in this moment of triumph, his body language around the owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, remained frosty.
Recent history hung over Napoli. Luciano Spalletti stepped down after leading the Partenopei to a Scudetto in 2023, riding off into the sunset in his newly pimped out Fiat Panda and citing a “personality clash” with De Laurentiis. But Conte is his own man with his own imperatives. Three months later, he stands as a rare point of continuity in a league determined to eschew it. Twelve of 20 clubs have changed manager – a drop, admittedly, from 14 last summer – including six of the top eight finishers.
Does stability breed success? If so, Napoli should begin as clear favourites. No starters have departed, and Kevin De Bruyne has arrived – a symbol of raised ambitions for a team chasing its third domestic title in four years. Incorporating him will require thought and likely some adjustment to last season’s 4-3-3, but should lend variety to a side that over-relied on Scott McTominay down the stretch. Nor is De Bruyne the only new arrival. Napoli have added centre-back Sam Beukema from Bologna and the Netherlands international Noa Lang on the wing. Romelu Lukaku will miss the start of the season with a hamstring injury, but that at least will give the 6ft 7ins striker Lorenzo Lucca a chance to prove his worth after joining from Udinese.
