Napoli celebrates centenary with special shirt and Dutch heroes

The 2026/2027 season is entirely dedicated to the hundred‑year anniversary of SSC Napoli. The club will wear a special shirt for home matches in the Champions League, organizes numerous festivities throughout the year, and two Dutchmen, Sam Beukema and Noa Lang, experience this up close.

Anniversary shirt and festive events

For the Champions League matches Napoli wear a unique anniversary shirt that honours the club’s history. In addition to the shirt, various festivities are organised throughout the season, ranging from fan gatherings to cultural activities. At the end of the calendar year a special anniversary film will also be released.

Sam Beukema: contract until 2030, but limited playing time

The central defender from Deventer, Sam Beukema, made the switch from Bologna to Napoli last season and immediately became a mainstay in the defence. He started virtually every Serie A match and helped the side to second place in the league. Since his Achilles tendon injury in August, Amir Rrahmani, Rafa Marín and Benoît Badiashile have been preferred, leaving Beukema with few opportunities this anniversary season. His contract runs until 2030, but whether he will actually reach that date remains uncertain.

Noa Lang: from conflict with Allegri to possible turnaround

Left‑back Noa Lang also arrived at Napoli last season, but his initial period was marked by sub‑par performances and a loan spell at Galatasaray. Upon his return at the start of the anniversary year he was given a fresh chance, scored straight away and found himself in a dispute with coach Massimiliano Allegri within the squad. After offering an apology he was readmitted and, after two strong appearances for the Dutch national team, earned a starting place in the final Serie A match, where he was purposeful. Whether this is the start of a lasting turnaround remains to be seen.

Rafa Marin explains why he's at ease with Allegri and staying Napoli

De Guzmán, a Canadian‑Dutch midfielder, unexpectedly earned a starting place during the 2014 World Cup under Louis van Gaal and was part of the legendary 5‑1 victory over Spain. Napoli bought him for around seven million euros from Swansea City and he spent three years at the Italian club. After a successful first season under Rafa Benítez a downward spiral followed, with the medical staff refusing to perform an operation and the club confronting him physically when he refused to sign a contract. After two loan spells he left via the back door for Frankfurt, without Napoli being able to organise a farewell for the former the Oranje international. Napoli therefore should not expect congratulations from the former the Oranje international.

Ruud Krol was the first Dutchman to wear the Napoli shirt, after moving in 1990 for five hundred thousand euros from the Vancouver Whitecaps to the Italian club. Over four seasons the left‑back played 125 matches in sky‑blue and was loudly cheered by the Neapolitan fans. In a 2022 interview Krol described the supporters as ‘hysterical, but fun’, and he still visits the city regularly, still feeling that he is a genuine Napoli fan.

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Preview of the anniversary film

To close the anniversary year, a special film will be released at the end of the calendar year that highlights Napoli’s hundred‑year history. The production promises to honour both the iconic moments and the contribution of the Dutch, including Beukema, Lang and Krol. Fans can look forward to a unique viewing experience that summarises the club culture and festive atmosphere of this season.