NAPLES – Scarves raised, flags fluttering, and torches lit into the night: Naples began the countdown to the centenary of Napoli Calcio with a huge demonstration involving thousands of fans. The procession, organized by the Azzurri fans, set off from Piazza dei Martiri, a symbolic site in the club's history, one day ahead of the official celebration promoted by Aurelio De Laurentiis' club.
According to organizers, at least ten thousand people gathered in the square since the afternoon to form a long collective embrace for the team and its history. Leading the procession was a van bearing a "No Business" banner, a message chosen by fans to accompany a day dedicated primarily to the bond between Napoli and its people.
Piazza dei Martiri was not chosen by chance: the historic building at number 30 was where the club had its headquarters between 1985 and 1991. From that balcony, after the most memorable exploits of the golden age, Diego Armando Maradona, his teammates, and president Corrado Ferlaino showed fans the trophies they had won, from the 1987 and 1990 championships to the 1989 UEFA Cup.
The procession crossed the Riviera di Chiaia to reach the Rotonda Diaz, where an exhibition dedicated to one hundred years of Azzurri history was set up. One hundred giant posters, collectible jerseys, and memorabilia recounted the club's most important moments, with a special space dedicated to Maradona, the champion who became a universal symbol of the relationship between Naples and football.
The stage featured a marathon of music and stories, with images and testimonials dedicated to different eras of society: from the 1960s and 1970s to the Ferlaino-led Scudetto era, up to the new De Laurentiis era. Guests included Maurizio De Giovanni, Corrado Ferlaino, Giuseppe Bruscolotti, and Diego Maradona Jr., while the musical portion was entrusted to Clementino and Nto.
The most anticipated moment came at the stroke of midnight, when the city lit up with scarves, flags, and torches to officially celebrate the Neapolitan club's centenary. A celebration that united generations in the name of a jersey that had become a symbol of belonging and civic pride.
The celebration will continue with the official "Napoli Cento" event, organized by the club, which will transform the city center into a stage dedicated to sport, music, culture, and memory.
