is a different preparation from what I was used to." Having started out on the substitute bench for the first three league matches, he made his debut for Napoli, starting the whole game, in a 1–1 draw against Lecce on 1 November 2000. This was followed up by scoring his first goal for the club, in a 2–1 loss against Vicenza. After the match, la Repubblica praised his performance. Since joining Napoli, however, Jankulovski found his playing time, mostly coming from the substitute bench. He then scored his second goal for the club, after coming on as a 75th-minute substitute, in a 6–2 win against Reggina on 16 December 2000. However, Jankulovski received a straight red card in the 89th minute, having come on as a 70th-minute substitute, in a 0–0 draw against Perugia on 18 March 2001. After serving a one match suspension, he scored on his return, having come on as an 83rd-minute substitute, against Bari on 14 April 2001. However, Jankulovski was unable to help the club avoid relegation to Serie B. At the end of the 2000–01 season, he went on to make twenty appearances and scoring once in all competitions. Ahead of the 2001–02 season, it was expected that Jankulovski would be staying at Napoli despite the club's relegation. He scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–1 loss against Siena on 12 August 2001. After the start of the 2001–02 season, Jankulovski continued to regain his first-team place, rotating in playing either left midfield and central midfield. By December, he began playing at left-back. Jankulovski then scored two goals in the next two matches against Cosenza and Pistoiese between 9 December 2001 and 14 December 2001. After missing two missing two matches through injury, he scored his return, in a 1–1 draw against Cagliari on 24 February 2002. Jankulovski then scored two more goals later in the 2001–02 season against Palermo and Siena. Despite suffering injuries throughout 2001–02 season, he went on to make 33 appearances in all competitions, scoring six times. Udinese On 1 February 2002, Jankulovski joined Udinese in a transfer worth €3.5 million, and was loaned back to Napoli. He was previously linked with a move to Premier League side West Ham United. Jankulovski made his debut for the club, coming on as a 58th-minute substitute, in a 1–1 draw against Parma in the opening game of the season.