The only positive to come out of Argentina’s humiliating 0-4 loss to the Germans in the 2010 World Cup Quarter Finals is that at least the nation’s citizens didn’t have to undergo the ordeal of seeing once great footballer, Diego Maradona run through the streets of Buenos Aires naked, as he had promised to do if the Argentina team he was coaching won the tournament. He may be off drugs but outrageous behavior is nothing new for this one-time street urchin from the shantytown of Villa Fiorito whose life and career have been decorated with almost as much controversy as brilliance.
In the end, the 2010 World Cup ended in tears for ‘El Diego’, but who would have imagined that such a rule-breaker would even end up in such a distinguished position as national team coach? Who would have thought that a man who has spent his entire adult life fighting against the establishment, would one day become a part of it?
The guy who once sported dinky little shorts and an afro as he scored the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal with his clenched fist now wears a dodgy gray-flecked beard as he paces the sidelines, looking like someone who has been forced to put on a suit for a court appearance. He may have been to rehab countless times, but adoring fans all over the world prefer to focus on his on-field triumphs, which have led many to consider him the greatest player of all time, and earned him the nickname ‘God.’
His Career
Diego Armando Maradona learned to play soccer on the dusty streets of the villa miseria (slum) known as Fiorita. It was there that, as a slightly tubby ten-year-old, his dazzling ball skills won him a place in the local junior team, a feeder for first division club, Argentinos Juniors. His prodigious talent meant that it was not too long before people realized that he was something special.
His first coach, Francisco Cornejo, describes the first time he saw young Diego doing tricks with the ball. “I looked at his parents, and said ‘He’s strange, right?’ And they looked at me and said, ‘Yep, he’s strange.’”
At the ridiculously young age of 16, Maradona made his debut in the Argentinian top division for Argentinos Juniors. His star shone brightly for the next five seasons, and he managed to rack up 143 goals and earn himself a dream move to his favorite club, Boca Juniors. He only spent one year in his first stint with the team he is most associated with in Argentina, as the big European clubs came knocking on Boca’s door.
In 1982, Maradona transferred to Barcelona, of Spain, but he most famously starred in Europe for modest Italian team Napoli, leading them to two championships in 1986/87 and 1989/90. His status for Napoli fans, and many Italians in general, is on a par with the adoration he receives back in his homeland. With his personal life spiraled out of control, Diego eventually returned to Argentina and his beloved Boca Juniors (after one season with Newell’s Old Boys) to play out his remaining years. His brilliant career was acknowledged in 2000 when he was awarded the title of ‘Player of the Century’ (to be shared with Brazilian great, Pele) by the sport’s governing body, FIFA, after topping a worldwide internet vote.
→ cont. reading Dan Colasimone’s: Maradona: Goal of the Century
