S.S.C. Napoli - The Mighty Azzurri.

DATE: MAY 20TH 2013


Sky Sports Presenter Simon Thomas broke this exclusive story only three months ago.

THOMAS. ''Breaking news from the Chelsea camp, interim Manager Rafael Benitez has not ruled out a move away from Chelsea. The current Blues boss has spoke of his desire to achieve success away from the English Premiership. More on this story as we get it...''

DATE: 26TH MAY 2013

Once again, Simon Thomas from the Sky Sports broadcast team is patiently awaiting the news coming LIVE from the HQ at Chelsea Football Club.

The camera pans into the Chelsea interview room. Rafa sits alone, in a dark grey suit and light blue tie. Adjusting his glasses and taking a sip from the small glass tumbler to his right hand side. The paparazzi wait poised for the Chelsea Head Coach to speak.

BENITEZ. ''I thank you for joining me today, just forty eight hours after our victory against Benfica. I have spoken with a Mr. Abramovich and have told Boudewijn (Zenden) and my other staff.

My time here hasn't been easy, and at times myself and players haven't always seen eye to eye. I try and always play a controlling and attacking game. With Fernando, Juan and David (Luiz) I had known these men and how they like to play and how I knew they could play. The fans knew me from before, (Super Liverpool F.C, biased.) so I had to battle with them from the start, I try and win them over. And hope with the Europa League victory I bring some happiness to them. My time here at Chelsea has come to an end, and I know Mr. Abramovich will find a suitable replacement...''

Rafa straightens his tie and refuses to take any further questions, he stands and slowly walks to the exit to the right hand side. The paparazzi are left confused, and questioning his motives.

DATE: 29TH MAY 2013

Rafa Benitez has been confirmed as the new manager of Serie A side Napoli, the club's president has announced.



Benitez spent much of last season in temporary charge at Chelsea. Benitez, takes over at the Stadio San Paolo following the departure of Walter Mazzari after the club finished second in the Italian league.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis announced via Twitter: "Rafa Benitez is the new trainer of Napoli. A man with great international experience. A leader."

The Spaniard expressed his excitement at undertaking a new "project", citing the passion of fans in Naples as a driving force in his decision to return to Italy.

BENITEZ. "Now that the agreement is confirmed, I can say I am very happy and very satisfied for having committed to a great club with an illustrious heritage like Napoli," he said on his official website, www.rafabenitez.com. "I understand the history of the city and how the club forms a fundamental part of the culture and traditions of Naples.

"I must confess that I am extremely excited because I can share my passion for football with the fans of Napoli; it is proven that they are very, very special. I look forward to experiencing each and every one of the fans of Napoli and their strong support for this project that we will begin.

"I'm happy to become a member of that great family of Naples and thus we can share the triumphs together. We will begin from the start as we mean to go on and we will fight from the beginning to achieve success for the fans of SSC Napoli."

Napoli later confirmed the signing on their official website in a statement which read:

"Rafa Benitez is the new coach of Napoli. The agreement was signed today in London. SSC Napoli is happy to welcome a coach so prestigious in their own family."

Decent start good luck Try using images and graphics etc

Cheers Beany, just adapting to the images and script work. Been years since I've even attempted something like this. Hoping to get the first post in full with graphics tonight!

that banner looks strangely familiar to my last one:P good luck mate, i did a napoli story on fm13 but it never got off the ground but i hope it does for you!!

Napoli is alway fun to manage.

God luck

To get ideas spend some time reading other stories and see how the writer went about making them successful. Good luck.

2013-11-01 13:37#140812 Jamesg237 : To get ideas spend some time reading other stories and see how the writer went about making them successful. Good luck.

Play at least 1/2 season ahead to get some storylines developing before you start writing.

Aaron, North and James. Thanks for the reply guys, I'm just currently going to hype the arrival and get approx: ten games in prior to a new instalment. So it can be a big chunk with transfers, pre-season and the league/cup etc.

Once again thanks for taking a few minutes out to read it.

COMETH THE HOUR: Rafa Benitez is now at the helm of S.S.C Napoli. A venture he hopes that can lead into more European glory. The team, the fans and the city engulfed in this aura that surrounds the excitement and potential that can be unlocked by the master tactician himself. The buzz continues days, weeks into his appointment. The whole of the Italian football scene discuss, whisper and snigger about Rafa. Some love, some hate and some sit on the fence. Can the man that lead Liverpool to the 2005 Champions League glory once again work his way to the top? Will he bring a new look of football to the Serie A? A re-vamped and exciting looking Napoli team now have The Rafa Effect.

INS/OUTS/RUMOURS The transitional period has been a busy one at the Stadio San Paolo, Higuian has signed, Callejon has arrived along with former Liverpool 'keeper Pepe Reina to name just a few. The new additions with the core team has put the entire Serie A on alert. Can the team that sold the Prodigal Son, the BIG name actually return a year later and be a stronger force?

Rafa didn't take long before opening the cheque book. Looking at the potential, and the squad in depth his first signing was Fabio Coentrao. The Real Madrid left back will bring his pace and flair into a potentially sleepy league, causing problems with his over lapping pace and eye for goal.

The young Swedish midfielder Rasmus Elm was second on the hit list. With the departure of Dzemaili to AS Monaco FC for £8.75 million the youngster was soon snapped up along with the signing of Elm's team-mate Keisuke Honda on a free (Signing 01.01.2014). Both will improve the middle of the park and help the ever present Inler and Behrami.


PRE-SEASON DRAMA One month, six games. This was the time period Rafa had to arrange, discipline and figure out his first team and best starting eleven. The results, scorers are detailed below.

Italian TV caught up with Rafa after the home win against Real Madrid and this is what he had to say.


BENITEZ ''Of course, it is nice and a proud moment to walk away with a win over such a club. I am particularly happy for Gonzola his hard work and effort paid off and it was rewarding with the winning goal.''

Rafa smiled as he walked away, he was then five wins from five. And without doubt Madrid was his only real challenge, and he came away with a win, just.

Was it just the calm before the storm? The fixture list was out and S.S.C Napoli begin the title hunt with an away fixture at Juventus.

SEPTEMBER 2013

- Rafa's Napoli

With pre-seaon over we are just forty-eight hours away from the beginning of this season's Serie A. With AC. Milan and Inter both having strong pre-season tours the likes of Roma, Napoli and Juventus have been put on high alert. The buzz around Napoli is still frisky, and the fans are expecting Rafa to deliver. But without the influential hit man Edison Cavani, they will need new boy Higuian to fill the star strikers boots, and quickly. Inler and Hamsik will once again be an integral part to Rafa's 4-2-3-1 tactic. And new boy Fabio will be put straight into the left back position while Rasmus Elm is slowly worked into the middle of the park, purely providing cover for the ball winning middle man Inler.

Rafa's old favourite and Liverpool-loane Pepe Reina has also been brought in with Brazil's Rafael, both looking to be the number one at Napoli. Rafa will surely pick one from the off and only drop him if need be. Either way it's a nice option to have two world class keepers between the sticks.

GAME ONE: JUVENTUS Vs. NAPOLI.
The opening day, the buzz, the hype, the absolute euphoria that surrounds this magical day. And without a doubt the pick of Week One is the mighty Juventus versus Napoli.

Wow, what a team you have there! A league winning side already without a doubt!

Well done in the transfer window. Love the pickup.

Turin, and The Juventus stadium was packed to the rafters. thirty thousand and eighty six screaming, adoring fans stood in their chosen colours. The black and white stripes filled three quarters of the ground while the mighty azzurri took charge of a small corner. Songs bellowed and scarfs raised high into the sky. Turin was a beautiful city and on a day like today with the atmosphere inside the stadium you wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Kick off was fast approaching and the teams lined the tunnel.

GAME: JUVENTUS VS. NAPOLI

M. Guida took charge of the heated battle and possession swung both ways in the opening quarter. Juvenus looked to pile the pressure on and when Raul Albiol brought down the Juve wide-man and the resulting free-kick ended up with a header glancing wide. The deadlock finally did break when against the run of play Napoli's Marik Hamsik scored from a Napoli corner. Callejon was the architect after his mazy run lead to the resulting corner. Napoli once again got put on the back foot when Llorente forced a shot wide and then Callejon found himself in the book for upending Pogba about twenty-five yards out. The free-kick clipped in by the gracious Pirlo found the head of Vucunic but the Old Lady front man missed the target. With half time fast approaching it was Paul Pogba once again causing trouble in the middle and his quick feet forced Behrami into a rash tackle, Napoli now have three in the book all before the forty-five minute. Maggio intercepted the resulting free-kick and Napoli began the incisive break-away Inlerto Hamsik who saw the Napoli striker Higuian make a run to the right only to have his first time shot hit directly at Storari. The two teams went in at half-time knowing the tie was far from over. Napoli one goal up, but also with three important players in the book.

The second half started brightly for the Napoli wide-men and both Callejon and Insigne forced the Juventus wing-backs into defensive positions with run and deep crosses. Higuian and Hamsik unable to punish the back four. Fifty five minute into the game Behrami found himself in a 50/50 with Juventus and footballing icon Pirlo, Behrami taking a small knock and hoping to run it off was eventually replaced with the other debutant Rasmus Elm Five minutes later it was the Napoli captain in trouble when Vucinic looked to take a dive, the referee saw contact and booked the Napoli centre-back. Cannavaro the forth man to see yellow. Juventus once more squandered the opportunity and Napoli began a possession spell keeping the ball tightly in the middle of the park before new boy Elm fired down the throat of the Juve keeper. In the sixty-fifth minute the net was struck again, this time Napoli left-back Fabio Coentrao'squick throw found Higuian who squared the ball to the edge of the box towards the left boot of Maggio His first time shot sailed past the onrushing defender and nestled in the bottom corner! Napoli now two up with half an hour to go against Juventus! From kick-off the Napoli front men forced Juventus back, Pogba caught in possession and Callejon outside whipping a ball in, only to have Hamsik head poorly towards the arms of the goalkeeper.

Pirlo's quick feet soon got Coentrao in trouble, as the Italian nutmegged the fresh faced Fabio and he also saw yellow. Napoli now two nil up, but also four men with a yellow next to their name. Tempers where starting to flare with a quarter of the match to go. Dries Mertens was the next man to enter the field of play, Callejon had run himself into the ground and the booked man was replaced. Dries soon got into the action zipping past Pogba in the middle only to be brought down and the Juventus defensive force was shown a yellow much to the delight of the singing Napoli fans. Vidal then found himself in space but put his shot horribly wide, the Juve man normally so precious and accurate walked away with his head hung low, muttering words of anger.

Higuian toyed and danced with the Juventus centre backs before cryuff turning out of danger and straight into Pirlo. Unfortunately Pirlo, couldn't shake off the impact and limped off to a round of applause from the onlooking home support. Ogbonna was the replacement as Pogba pushed into the middle more and let Ogbonna sit in front of the centre backs. With just over seven minutes left it was the goal that really put the stake in the coffin for Juventus and all it's fans. Inler and Elm creating the space and room before playing Insigne in and the wide man slotted home to put Napoli three nil up.

Ogbonna soon picked up his first card of the campaign, while he lunge took Insigne down. The Napoli wide man was soon on his feet smiling, knowing his job was done. Tackles flew in and chances wasted as the game puttered out. The referee brought the whistle to his mouth and blew for full time. Napoli had come to Turin and beaten Juventus by three goals to nothing. A superb performance from Lorenzo Insigne gave him the MoM and the third goal. A real moments day for Napoli, its fans and of course the new manager Rafa Benitez.

AT A GLANCE:

Juventus 14 SHOTS 18 NAPOLI.
Juventus 4 ON TARGET 11 NAPOLI.
Juventus 11 FOULS 14 NAPOLI.
Juventus 2 YELLOW CARDS 5 NAPOLI.
Juventus 58 POSSESSION 42 NAPOLI.

GOALS:

NAPOLI 1-0 Marek Hamsik (20Min)
NAPOLI 2-0 Christian Maggio (65min)
NAPOLI 3-0 Lorenzo Insigne (83min)

STAR MAN

Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne - 8.5

SEPTEMBER - A ROUND UP.

The scarfs waved, the fans cheered. Napoli had beaten Juventus and before we had time to bask in the glory it was back to business. The second game, the home debut for new manager Rafa Benitez. The opposition Catania, forty one thousand strong packed the stadium.

''Rafa, Rafa, Rafa…'' Rung around the arena, the excitement seemed to be brimming. The pre match interview had be done, the official match program had a detailed biography of Rafael Benitez and his honours achieved around the world. The fans hoped that his stay in Italy would provide yet more silver wear.

BUT reality struck home. Napoli's first home game ended in defeat. A 2-1 defeat at that after Higuian opened his account inside the first quarter. They let a lead slip. This was not what Rafa and the Napoli board had in mind. His possession based game didn't allow the opposition to create chances. But they did, and Napoli have been beaten at home.

On the road again for the third game, Udinese the opponents. Higuian had opened his account, but Rafael had let two sloppy goals in. Rafa wasn't in the mood for defeat, and his players knew this. Starting quick and applying the pressure. Napoli found there selves two up within the opening twenty minutes. Inler and Insigne doing the job today, the game didn't provide any more excitement. The hot topic seemed to be the ever present yellow cards being dished out. Napoli's defence are not shy of a tackle. And Rafa didn't seem flustered by this. Game three and Napoli have six points. The away record intact.

Champions League, Group B. Away at Real Madrid. Things didn't get much bigger than this, after the pre-season victory Rafa's men marched into Madrid with a confident swagger. Higuian had scored pre-season against his former club. Rafa had two wins from three, and ultimately they have been dubbed the underdogs for this clash.

The atmosphere was intense, the brilliant white and gold of real flickered and flashed from seat to seat. Scarfs, flags and banners draped from every terrace. This is one of the biggest venues in world football. Ronaldo, Bale, Modric, Ramos. The list went on. And the game eventually and unfortunately was just to much of an ask. Napoli found themselves heading home with a crushing four one defeat. Modric opening the scoring and Bale notching twice prior to half time. Cannavaro grabbed a pure consolation goal for the Azzurri, and Rafa was once again left scratching his head. He had the players, they had the belief but it just wasn't his time. Not yet.

Bologna at home, the San Paolo once again packed. Forty thousand adoring fans returned for the second home game of the season. Last time out Rafa's men where shocked by a two one defeat. After the defeat at Madrid it was time to ensure the home form starting picking up pace. Napoli didn't disappoint. A three one victory, with man of the moment Insigne grabbing the first before a late double by Napoli's star striker Higuian put the game beyond Bologna. Nine points from twelve in the league, and Rafa's men looked good at the helm. European football was key this year, so the pressure was soon to mount.

A journey to Cagliari was next, the small stadium holding sixteen thousand. And a game Napoli looked to put to bed early and return with another win, but… This is football and things don't always turn out like they should. Hamsik and Insigne had picked up injuries and suddenly the team didn't have the depth. Players filled the roles and Napoli away from home had been held to a two all draw against little Cagliari. Old boy Pandev did the damage and scored first before Napoli ended two one down, loanee Mertens grabbed the equaliser from the spot. And Napoli travelled back with one point. Rafa knew that was two points dropped and more worryingly two injuries that he didn't need.

The final game in September saw Napoli televised, home against Atalanta. With two points dropped the Italian league looked even closer. Napoli had dropped three places as the usual giants plugged away with wins. So tonight was vital, with the teams around winning earlier, Napoli's fans and Rafa himself knew three points was key to end the month.

The game began like most, Napoli hitting the challenges in early and unsettling the travelling team. Pandev had taken his recent form and popped up with another goal, just ten minutes on the clock and Napoli are one goal to the good. It took just six minutes before Jose Callejon buried his first chance of the game and the Napoli fans where in voice. Two nil, and only sixteen minutes gone. On the twenty minute mark Atalanta pegged one back, but six minute later Pandev grabbed his second and Napoli's third. It stayed this way until half time. Rafa's men three one up and looking comfortable. Half-time team talks can swing games, who knows what Rafa said to his Liverpool boy's in 2005 but something tells me Atalanta had the hair dryer treatment. Two goals from the away side and nothing from Napoli in the second forty five. Rafa's men had let slip a two goal lead, they have drew three all. And with that two points from a potential six. The end of September hasn't been a good one. October needed an improvement from everyone, from Rafael to Higuian they needed to close out games and make opportunity count.

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DEBRIEF:
GAMES; SIX
POINTS; ELEVEN
FOR; FOURTEEN
AGAINST; EIGHT
TOP SCORER; HIGUIAN, PANDEV, INSIGNE - THREE

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP B:
GAMES; ONE
POINTS; NONE
FOR; ONE
AGAINST; FOUR
TOP SCORER; CANNAVARO