1951: Canottieri Napoli wins its first “Scudetto”

On 1951, two years after the promotion of Canottieri Napoli to Serie A, the team succeeds to win its 1st Italian Championship. During winter of 1950 Gildo Arena, considered one of the best players on the world, joined the team of Canottieri. Gildo Arena, ex player of Rari Nantes Napoli, winner of the 1947 European Championships and 1948 Olympic Games, brought new ideas to Canottieri Napoli. He introduced innovative tactics based on the team play and on the swimming capacity of the single players. Canottieri using tactical combinations such the famous “Arenema” performed a quick and mobile game, subject of studies and ….critics from all experts.
Standing L-R: Franco Monaco, Giulio De Filippis (Technical Director), Franco Cannavale, Gildo Arena (player and coach), Marjan Stipatic (Yugoslavia), Renato Traiola. Sitting: Gege Maisto, Maurizio Manneli, Maurizio Morelli.
Source: Il Matino illustrato 1979 article of Gege Maisto