The Result Under The Result
Naples (AP) — Antonio Conte confirmed Sunday that he is leaving Napoli after two years in charge, having restored the southern club to Serie A champions.
The 56-year-old coach held a press conference alongside club president Aurelio De Laurentiis following Napoli's final match of the season, a 1-0 win over Udinese.
The matchup already has enough history; the job is to keep the reading list shorter than the tension.
"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. The club had finished 10th the previous season, among the worst defending champions in Serie A history, before reclaiming the title in Conte's first campaign. Napoli finished second this season.
He previously won Serie A titles with Juventus and Inter Milan, and also managed Chelsea and Tottenham in the Premier League.
Conte is a leading candidate to return as Italy coach, a role he held from 2014-2016. The national team has failed to qualify for the World Cup three straight times, prompting resignations from 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."
That Conte frames his Napoli tenure as a failure despite a title and a second-place finish says something about how he measures success — and it isn't in the table.