Anyway, I’m back. Having been swamped by university work and general life I am pleased to say that Osservando is now number 1 priority for at least the next few months. Let’s go.

From Brescia to Naples, Marek Hamsik is one of the most iconic players to have featured in Serie A during the 2010s period. The Naples icon is famed not only for his razor-sharp mohawk and shaved sides but also for standing as Napoli’s third-highest goalscorer, surpassing legends like Diego Maradona.

Marek Hamsik began his Italian journey in Brescia before completing a €5.5 million transfer to Napoli in 2007. From there, he went on to become a Napoli great, making 520 appearances, scoring 121 goals, and recording 103 assists. These impressive numbers place Hamsik among the great Serie A midfielders of the 2010s, such as Pirlo, Nainggolan (article coming soon), Vidal, and Pogba.

Hamsik connected with the Napoli ultras through his passion and determination for the club. When he joined Napoli, they found themselves adrift; in the 2008/09 season, they finished a disastrous 13th. Hamsik became a key player in the following seasons, as his skill and passion helped Napoli reclaim their position among the elite. They recorded four 2nd-place finishes and three 3rd-place finishes in the next 10 years. Hamsik was instrumental; his attacking partnerships caused some of the best Italian defences to crumble, and his relationship with fellow midfielders such as Jorginho is also commendable.

Hamsik, being Napoli’s third-highest goal scorer, showcases the impact the Slovak had from the center of the park. The number 17 occupied the number 8 role, making driving runs into the box and interlinking play with players such as Martens, who would often drop deep to allow Hamsik to bomb forward. Of his 121 goals, there was a whole array of finishes – from worldie strikes from outside the box to bombing runs and 1/2s before bending them round the keeper. The Slovakian really had it all.

Hamsik was part of Napoli’s golden attack, instrumental alongside players such as Cavani, Mertens, and Insigne. This attack led the side to some of Napoli’s best years, and despite the side’s Scudetto win last year, the period in which Hamsik played was without a doubt one of Gli Azzurri’s best times.

As well as being a Napoli legend, he also cemented himself onto the European stage. His performances in Euro 2016 for Slovakia caught the eyes of the world as he led them out of the group stage, securing a draw against England and being instrumental in a famous win against Russia. While many in England will probably recognize Hamsik for his famed hairstyle or his annoyingly common appearance in FIFA packs, the Slovakian is slowly slipping out of memory, despite being one of the very best midfielders to grace Serie A in the last 20 years—and undoubtedly a Naples legend.