Marek Hamsik has constantly rejected Arsenal, Liverpool and is demi-God among Napoli faithful — most loved player since Diego Maradona was at San Paolo
Slovakian has seen likes of Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Gonzalo Higuain leave for 'bigger clubs' but he stayed
A TRAGIC incident outside the stadium had to led riots among Napoli fans prior to the 2014 Coppa Italia final against Fiorentina.
Three supporters had been shot, with one subsequently dying in hospital.
Napoli fans refused to let the game begin until they knew the status of those involved in the incident.
Security staff and stadium authorities tried to restore order but failed.
It took the intervention of Marek Hamsik, who climbed the barrier to talk to a selection of the fans, before the game could the game to get underway.
Now, could you imagine Michael Carrick asking the Manchester United fans to calm down or Arsenal supporters properly responding to a call from Theo Walcott?
Marek Hamsik scores the seventh in a 7-1 victory over Bologna this seasonHamsik is a demi-God among the Napoli faithful.
Among major European clubs, only Francesco Totti’s relationship with the Roma fans even compared.
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Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Gonzalo Higuain are among those who made their names at the San Paolo before moving on to bigger clubs.
But Hamsik stayed despite offers arriving from clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool on an annual basis.
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The Napoli fans do not forgive and they do not forget. But treat them well — and you will be revered for life.
Diego Maradona transformed the club from relegation candidates to Serie A champions and stayed loyal.
Despite knowing he could have joined any team in the world.
But he could now see his club record of 115 goals equalled with Hamsik still stuck on 114.
The Argentine’s No.10 shirt has since been retired, and he is almost as important as the Pope among Neapolitans.
While Higuain has had his name cancelled from the club's annals and there is now toilet paper made depicting his face.
It will likely never be safe for him to venture among the streets of Naples again.
Hamsik was born in Slovakia and first arrived in Serie A as a 17-year-old when he signed for Brescia in 2004.
He made his league debut less than a year later, but couldn’t prevent relegation.
The midfielder joined Napoli in 2007 for £4.7million, with the club finishing second in Serie B behind Juventus, who had been relegated the previous season following a match-fixing probe.
Hamsik soon established himself as a key player, and his goals helped the club qualify for the Champions League in just four seasons after returning to the top flight.
And, a year on, he scored the opener as Napoli beat Juventus — who hadn’t lost a league game all season — in the Coppa Italia final to earn the club their first major trophy for two decades.
In 2011-12, he formed part of a frightening front-three, which included Cavani and Lavezzi — but two years on, he was all alone.
However, he was joined Higuain as Rafa Benitez was named boss in the summer of 2013 and he was named skipper the following winter.
He led the club to a second Coppa Italia success in three years.
This is Hamsik’s tenth season at Napoli and there is no louder noise around the 60,000-capacity San Paolo than the announcer reading the Slovak’s name out.
Dries Mertens and Jose Callejon are enjoying stunning seasons at the club — while local boy, Lorenzo Insigne has a place in the heart of all Neapolitans.
Hamsik’s legend, however, is built on his loyalty. The fact he has seen others go elsewhere and stock up their medal count.
Yet still stay.
Should he one day hold the Scudetto in his hands, there would be streets named after him and multiple statues erected among the fans.
Hamsik is no one-club man, but it difficult to imagine a more loyal footballer.