MORE THAN MARADONA
THE BIRTH, DEATH AND REBIRTH
OF SSC NAPOLI
WRITTEN by
KIRSTEN SCHLEWITZ
This first English-language history of one of Italy’s most popular teams appeals to both supporters and newcomers alike, revealing the reasons so many are smitten with SSC Napoli, even before they won their third title.
Diego Maradona spent less than seven seasons with Napoli, but during that time the Italian club soared to its greatest heights, winning the Serie A title twice and the Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italia, and UEFA Cup once.
Until very recently, for most soccer lovers, the Partenopei story begins and ends with Maradona. Yet Napoli’s history is packed with fascinating figures, from owners to players to the legend-turned-sport-director who brought in the beloved deity.
More than Maradona highlights this cast of characters, spotlights the side’s most intriguing years, and ties both back to the history and culture of Naples, a rare one-club town. Primarily written prior to the 2023 scudetto, the book concludes with an ecstatic finale covering the season in which Napoli dominated Serie A.
“thank you for such a great book , have just finished and IT has been perfect holiday reading. Thanks AGAIN FOR A FANTASTIC READ”
— Philip Hall
“HERE IN NAPLES, WE’RE ALL ABOUT HEART AND SOUL. MARADONA PLAYED HERE, WON HERE AND IN WINNING HERE HE SHOWCASED HOW BEAUTIFUL FOOTBALL CAN BE. WE CAN’T PLAY OUR FOOTBALL WITHOUT A NOD TO THAT AESTHETIC LEGACY.”
— Luciano Spalletti
“NAPOLI E’ TROPPO SPECIALE, QUINDI NON LO POSSONO CAPIRE TUTTI.”
—Marcello Mastroianni
“naples was a crazy city, they were as crazy as me. soccer was life itself.”
—Diego Maradona
About KIRSTEN
Kirsten Schlewitz fell in love with soccer when she was only four years old, running around the dirt fields of Central California. After a decade spent working in sports media, she cofounded Unusual Efforts, a community dedicated to elevating the voices of women-cis and trans-and nonbinary persons in soccer. Writing is her passion project; her pieces have appeared at ESPN and Then Guardian, among many other outlets, and she often consults on soccer-related stories for international media. Kirsten is part of the Far From Vesuvius network, which provides content to Napoli fans, as well as The Gentleman Ultra, a site for all things interesting about Serie A. Currently, she is tying together her BA in International Political Economy and her JD in International Law as she pursues a Master’s in Justice and Reconciliation, applying her writing and editing skills to peace building efforts in the Balkans. Kirsten firmly believes that sport can be used to establish and repair relationships between individuals, communities, and countries. She splits her time between Belgrade, Serbia and the Pacific Northwest, but part of her heart always lingers in Naples.
