Los Angeles Bestows 'Honorary Citizenship' on Napoli President De Laurentiis for Sporting Achievements

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has bestowed honorary citizenship upon Aurelio De Laurentiis, president of Italian club Napoli, during the "Football in Hollywood" event. This recognition acknowledges his successes in entrepreneurship and sports, as well as his leadership in guiding the Italian club to significant achievements over the past two decades.

Mayor Bass praised De Laurentiis's role in rebuilding the Italian team. Karen Bass stated, "I look forward to visiting the city of Naples to see what you have built, how you saved the team, and your true contribution to the spirit of football in the country. This recognition is a testament from the city of Los Angeles to your diligent work." This honor comes as De Laurentiis marks two decades at the helm of Napoli, a period that has seen the club's trajectory transformed, culminating in winning the Italian League title twice within three years.

The Napoli president expressed his pride in the recognition, mentioning ongoing preparations for the club's centenary. Aurelio De Laurentiis stated, "It is a great honor to receive this recognition, and I hope you will enjoy the film, as we are currently working on a cinematic production documenting one hundred years of Napoli's history from 1926 to today." He further explained that next year will see the release of another film detailing the complete historical journey of the Italian team.

Despite this American honor, De Laurentiis has not yet received honorary citizenship in Naples, Italy, itself, although Mayor Gaetano Manfredi has confirmed a strong desire to grant it to him in the coming months. This follows other figures associated with the club receiving this honor previously, including former coach Luciano Spalletti, who was recognized in December 2023, and former player Dries Mertens, set for June 2025.