Summer move from Real Madrid in 2013
The summer of 2013 was a sliding doors moment in the recent history of Napoli, as the wind of change swept through the gulf of Naples. Aurelio De Laurentiis decided to place Rafa Benitez in charge of the team, the coach tasked with giving the club an 'international dimension'. The Spaniard began the restoration by turning to his homeland for players with a track record of success that he knew could be relied upon. And so it was that Raul Albiol, Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Callejon made the journey from Real Madrid to Naples, sending excitement levels in the city through the roof.
The former Liverpool coach spoke in glowing terms of Callejon from the very start, boldly announcing during a press conference that “Jose will score 15-20 goals this season”. The forward took those words quite literally and repaid the faith shown in him: he scored in each of his first three Serie A appearances and ended his maiden campaign with 15 league goals and 20 in all competitions (his best goals return in a single campaign at the club), far exceeding the fans' initial expectations.
Insigne's pass for Callejon's run
Jose Callejon spent seven seasons in Naples, racking up 349 appearances and 82 goals in all competitions, thus becoming the eighth highest appearance-maker and 11th highest goalscorer in club history.
Besides his finishing skills, he was also a serial provider for his team-mates, making 72 total assists – more than any other Napoli player between 2013/14 and 2019/20. His total goal contributions (154) were second only to Dries Mertens (190) in that period.
Beyond the hard numbers, Calleti (as he was affectionately dubbed) displayed one skill in particular that endeared him to Azzurri fans, and was appreciated by coaches, team-mates and pundits alike: his off-the-ball runs. That ability made him a veritable thorn in the side of opponents and earned him recognition as one of the best players in the world at making runs into the box without the ball.
This rare talent was enhanced by the silky skills of Lorenzo Insigne, which led to the coining of the phrase “Insigne's pass for Callejon's run”. In their seven years sharing a dressing room together, the Italian set up 15 goals for the Spanish winger in Serie A – more than any other player for a single team-mate in that period.
Insigne-Mertens-Callejon
The understanding between Insigne and Callejon also extended to Dries Mertens, who took on the centre forward mantle in the 2016/17 season following the departure of Gonzalo Higuain. That led to the formation of a “light” three-pronged attack, with three smaller forwards who complemented each other perfectly and all finished the campaign in double figures for goals.
That year the Spaniard enjoyed his best season in terms of goal contributions (14 scored, 12 assisted) and he was one of just two players to achieve more than ten in both categories in the 2016/17 Serie A, together with Mohamed Salah (15+11).
Callejon managed a double-double the following season too (ten goals and ten assists), when Napoli went close to realising the Scudetto dream.
He only scored three goals in 2018/19 but provided another ten assists. Only he and Papu Gomez were able to hit double figures for assists in each of those three Serie A seasons (2016-2019).
In his final season in Naples (four goals and seven assists in Serie A), Callejon is remembered for iconic celebration after scoring in the 2-1 victory over Roma on 5 July 2020, which turned out to be his last goal for the club. He put his hand beneath his chin as a way of saying “heads high until the end” – a gesture Napoli fans still remember. The gesture and also the player – one who will forever remain part of Napoli history.
Article by Opta
