How Luciano Spalletti’s Love Affair With Napoli Is Fuelling His Azzurri Rebuild

Luciano Spalletti parted ways with his Fiat Panda again last week. At least on this occasion it was on his terms. 

The Italy national team coach had it stolen in 2021 after an inauspicious start to life at Napoli, when Ultras informed him he would get it back when he left their club. 

True to their word, the group finally returned his steering wheel, and his catalogue of car CDs, when he left the club two years later. By that stage though, their relationship had transformed. So too had the Fiat.

Having guided Napoli to the Scudetto – just their third, and first in 33 years – Spalletti was leaving the city a hero, in a vehicle with a custom paint job dedicated to the success. 

Last week,  just over a year on from the celebrations, he was back to donate the car to the paediatrics unit at Santobono Hospital. He’s not Diego Maradona, but what he delivered hasn’t been forgotten by the city. 

Outside the hospital children and their parents lined up for photos with the 65-year-old, some reduced to tears. There is no denying what he means to Neapolitans.

Attending Napoli’s clash with Monza the night before a banner invited him into the Curva B, to reunite with the protagonists of the great Panda heist. He took the time to revisit his favourite restaurant, Cicciotto a Marechiaro, and catch up with owner Vincenzo. He also dedicated time to the local press, pontificating on the similarities between his side and Antonio Conte’s current crop.

For now, it is another team that takes up Spalletti’s attention. Having turned around a disappointing start in Naples, he now must do the same with the national team. 

The team’s performance at Euro 2024 was, in the eyes of Italians, an unmitigated disaster. Their place in the last-16 only salvaged by a last-minute wonder strike by Mattia Zaccagni against Croatia, they failed to build on their reprieve in the next round where they were unceremoniously dumped out by Switzerland. Spalletti agreed with the sentiment that the Swiss had performed like a Ferrari; his side more resembling a Fiat. 

He was given a reprieve, and has now been charged with guiding Italy to their first World Cup finals appearance since 2014. 

Part of the mitigation has been the quality and depth at his disposal. As with Napoli, Spalletti hasn’t been blessed with a squad brimming with talent. He had to deal with the loss of Fabian Ruiz and Kalidou Koulibaly on the eve of their championship-winning campaign. 

Working with what he had was how he cultivated his Serie A success on the south coast, and it is how he must do so again with the Azzurri. 

The green shoots of recovery are appearing. Victory in their Nations League opener against France was a statement of intent – emphasised by Federico Dimarco’s stunning strike. 

The return of Sandro Tonali from suspension is a boost, and there are other fresh faces, too – Daniel Maldini following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps to pull on the blue shirt after being called up for Nations League clashes with Belgium and Israel.

Once again, Spalletti finds himself revamping his Fiat.