Diego Armando Maradona was born on October 30, 1960, and passed away on November 25, 2020. He was an Argentine football player and coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He was one of the two players awarded the FIFA Player of the 20th Century.
Maradona was born into a poor family in Lanus, Argentina, with three sisters, one older brother, and one younger brother. Growing up, Maradona faced difficult circumstances, but his family was close-knit and loving.
According to Maradona's biography, from his early years living in a shantytown, his only source of joy, like other impoverished children, was a soccer ball. Maradona's talent was discovered at a very young age when he played for the Estrella Roja club at the age of 8.
Soon after, he joined The Little Onions, a youth team of Argentina Juniors. It was here that Maradona's talent began to attract the attention of coaches. In his youth, Maradona admired two players, George Best of Manchester United and Rivelino of Brazil.
He began his career at his beloved club, Boca Juniors. He played only one season here, but his record of 40 games and 28 goals as an 18-year-old player was impressive. In that season, he helped Boca Juniors win the Argentine Primera Division and the Copa Libertadores.
Despite being the world's most expensive player at the time, Maradona struggled to find his form at Barcelona. There were various reasons for this, including the unfamiliar environment. At Barcelona, Maradona played only 40 games over two seasons, leaving a relatively faint mark.
Napoli was the next destination for "The Golden Boy," and it was the club where he left the most significant impact. He played for Napoli from 1984 to 1992, scoring 81 goals in 188 matches and helping the club achieve numerous honors.
Specifically, he helped Napoli win the Serie A title in 1987, breaking the dominance of Juventus and AC Milan. Two years later, he also led the Southern Italian club to their second Serie A title. Additionally, he won the Supercoppa Italiana and the UEFA Super Cup with Napoli. His achievements made him a revered figure among Napoli fans, and very few have had such a profound impact on the club to this day.
However, success on the field led him to the brink of his personal life. Maradona's continued use of cocaine began to affect him as he missed matches and training sessions, resulting in a $70 fine. He had a child out of wedlock from an extramarital affair, and there were rumors of his close ties to a Naples-based criminal organization, the Camorra.
He quickly tested positive for cocaine use and was banned from playing for 15 months, leading to a shameful exit from Napoli. His jersey was subsequently retired to honor his contributions to the club.
Despite interest from Real Madrid and Marseille, Maradona signed with Sevilla and stayed there for a year. In 1993, he played for Newell's Old Boys, and in 1995, he returned to Boca Juniors for two years. Maradona also played for Tottenham Hotspur in a testimonial match for Osvaldo Ardiles before the 1986 World Cup.
In 1996, he played in a friendly match alongside his brother Raul for the Toronto Italia team against the Canadian National Soccer League All-Stars. Maradona himself was honored in a match in November 2001, where he participated in a World XI vs. Argentina national team exhibition game.
International Career:
After being omitted from the 1978 World Cup due to concerns about his young age, he excelled by winning the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1979, bringing Argentina the title and the Golden Shoe of the event. He made his debut in the World Cup in 1982, where Argentina did not win, but he played in all 10 matches.
In the 1986 World Cup, Maradona established himself as a legend. In the tournament, he represented Argentina in all competitions. He famously scored the "Hand of God" goal in the quarterfinals. His second goal against England in that match, known as the "Goal of the Century," involved him dribbling past multiple defenders before scoring.
Maradona was awarded the Golden Ball, becoming the first player to win it at both the FIFA U20 and FIFA World Cup levels. In the 1990 World Cup, he successfully led Argentina to the final but lost to West Germany in the final. He scored his final World Cup goal against Greece in the 1994 World Cup before being expelled from the tournament for failing a doping test.
Coaching Career:
Maradona became the coach of the Argentina national football team in November 2008. He led the team at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa before departing at the end of the tournament. Afterward, he coached the Dubai-based club Al Wasl in the UAE Pro-League for the 2011-12 season.
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