The Short Version
NAPLES, Italy (AP) — Antonio Conte confirmed on Sunday that he is leaving Napoli after two years in charge, having guided the southern club back to the Serie A title in his first season.
The 56-year-old held a press conference alongside club president Aurelio De Laurentiis following Napoli's final match of the campaign, a 1-0 win over Udinese. Napoli finished second in Serie A, hampered by injury problems throughout the season.
That is usually how club statements work: the wording stays calm while the room clearly has not.
"A month ago I called the president … I told him that I sensed that our project was coming to an end," Conte said. "I made this decision because at Napoli I failed in one thing: I didn't bring unity to the environment and so it's difficult to compete with others."
The Useful Context
Conte signed a three-year contract with Napoli in 2024, arriving after the club had finished 10th in the league—one of the worst performances by a defending champion in Serie A history. He led Napoli to the title in his debut campaign.
Before joining Napoli, Conte coached Juventus and Inter Milan to domestic league crowns, while also managing Chelsea and Tottenham in the Premier League.
He is currently among the leading candidates to take over the Italian national team, a role he previously held from 2014-16. Italy is in crisis after failing to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time, prompting the resignations of FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and coach Gennaro Gattuso last month.
The Part Still Unclear
"It's all just talk," Conte said when asked about the Italy job. "But as of now I don't know anything about my future. I might well take time out and rest."