SSC Napoli fans on Sunday watched their heroes finally lift the Serie A trophy as coach Luciano Spalletti walked away from Naples, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced his retirement from soccer.
A 2-0 win over relegated UC Sampdoria was little more than a hors d’oeuvre before the real reason fans jammed into Stadio Diego Armando Maradona — to see their team lift the trophy for the first time in 33 years.
Victor Osimhen opened the scoring from the penalty spot midway through the second half, the 26th league strike of a stunning season which made him Serie A’s all-time top African scorer.
Photo: AFP
Giovanni Simeone then made sure the hosts would finish the season on 90 points in the 85th minute with a stunning long-range strike before celebrating by holding up a Napoli shirt worn by icon and compatriot Maradona.
Spalletti is to take a year-long sabbatical while still under contract with Napoli, and would return to his Tuscan vineyard the oldest ever coach to win the Scudetto at 64.
Ibrahimovic surprised fans by revealing that he was quitting after AC Milan’s 3-1 win over Hellas Verona, which sent their opponents into a relegation playoff with Spezia Calcio who lost 2-1 at AS Roma.
Photo: AFP
The 41-year-old, a key figure in Milan’s resurgence to the top of Italian soccer since his return in late 2019, was in the stands injured as he has been for most of the season before announcing his retirement.
“It’s the moment to say goodbye to football, not just to you,” Ibrahimovic said on the San Siro pitch.
“There are too many emotions for me right now. Forza Milan and goodbye,” he said.
The 41-year-old had been expected to simply bid farewell to Milan fans after his departure from the seven-time European champions was announced on Saturday.
He returned to Milan in late 2019 for a second spell after a previous two-year period in which he won the Serie A title in 2011.
“The first time I came here you gave me happiness, the second time you gave me love,” Ibrahimovic said. “You welcomed me with open arms, you made me feel at home, I will be a Milanista for the rest of my life.”
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