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Conte Departs Napoli After Runner-up Finish, Injuries Cited

5/26/2026

Summary

Conte Departs Napoli

Antonio Conte announced on May 24, 2026 that he will leave Napoli as head coach, saying he could not unite the squad after calling the club president a month earlier.
Napoli beat Udinese 1-0, finished second in Serie A, 11 points behind champions Inter Milan.
President De Laurentis blamed injuries to Scott McTominay, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Giovanni Di Lorenzo for missing the title and confirmed the exit with a thank-you message from the club.

Summary

Conte Leaves Napoli

AC Milan and Juventus missed spots while Como and Roma entered the top four.
After Italy’s World Cup miss, FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and coach Gennaro Gattuso resigned before Antonio Conte left Napoli.
Conte’s exit prompted speculation he could return as Italy’s head coach, a post he held 2014-16.
Napoli’s technical director is on president-candidate Hakan Safi’s shortlist; Conte’s contract ends 2024 after Napoli finished second, 11 points behind Inter Milan.

History

Historical Context

In May 2006 Calciopoli exposed referee-appointment manipulation, prompting the FIGC to relegate Juventus to Serie B, strip its 2004-05 title and impose a 30-point deduction, while AC Milan and other clubs received penalties. The episode reappears in 2026 as Antonio Conte leaves Napoli, Juventus and AC Milan miss the top-four, and Hakan Safi emerges as a presidential candidate, underscoring the need for stronger oversight.

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Conte Departs Napoli

Antonio Conte announced on May 24, 2026 that he will leave Napoli as head coach, saying he could not unite the squad after calling the club president a month earlier.
Napoli beat Udinese 1-0, finished second in Serie A, 11 points behind champions Inter Milan.
President De Laurentis blamed injuries to Scott McTominay, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Giovanni Di Lorenzo for missing the title and confirmed the exit with a thank-you message from the club.

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