Full Breakdown
Antonio Conte Departs Napoli After 2025-2026 Season
5/25/2026, 12:11:45 AM
Departure
On 24 May 2026, after Napoli’s 2-0 win over Udinese on the final Serie A matchday, coach Antonio Conte announced his departure at a press conference with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis. He confirmed he will not return as Napoli manager.
Season Results
In his spell, Napoli won the 2025 Serie A title and the 2025-26 Super Coppa. The 2025-26 season ended with Napoli as runners-up, 11 points behind Inter Milan. Since his 2009 Juventus appointment, Conte has never finished outside Italy’s top two.
Tenure Background
Conte took over Napoli in summer 2024, joining his three Serie A crowns with Juventus (2012-15) and one with Inter (2021). His first season delivered the 2025 league title despite the loan of striker Victor Osimhen to Galatasaray and the 2024 sale of winger Khvicha Kvaratskelia. An injury crisis in 2025-26 disrupted the defence and forced tactical adjustments.
Timeline
Summer 2024 – Conte appointed Napoli coach.
2025 season – Napoli win Serie A title.
Winter 2025-26 – Napoli win Super Coppa.
Early 2025-26 – Injury crisis hampers title defence.
24 May 2026 – Final-day win over Udinese; Conte announces departure.
Statements & Criticism
Conte said the decision to leave was his own, emphasizing his refusal to accept a ‘mediocre season.’ He referenced a personal conversation with De Laurentiis, noting their friendship. De Laurentiis confirmed the announcement without naming a successor. Conte denied any agreement to resume the Italian national team role, and the Italian Football Federation has not commented. He also cited ‘situations I didn’t like’ after the Bologna match, saying some new signings failed to integrate and describing ‘very difficult dynamics’ and an ‘unprecedented injury crisis’ that hurt the season.
Quotes
- “After Bologna, I sensed some situations I didn’t like, and even there, it takes guts to speak your mind. I’ve never been one for mediocre seasons, and I never will be. I was even prepared to step aside; certainly, some new signings didn’t gel with the existing squad, and some very difficult dynamics had developed that needed to be addressed.” — Antonio Conte, Head Coach, Napoli
- “I was lucky enough to have a group I could be straight with, we sorted things out, telling each other that we had to pull together, and we set off again.” — Antonio Conte, Head Coach, Napoli
- “Given the friendship we share, I feel that my time here is coming to an end.” — Antonio Conte, Head Coach, Napoli
- “The decision was mine.” — Antonio Conte, Head Coach, Napoli
Outlook
Conte is widely cited as a leading candidate for the vacant Italian national team role, though no appointment is confirmed. Napoli will start the 2026-27 season under a new manager, keeping most core players while addressing the transfer and injury issues Conte highlighted.
