Naples city mayor Luigi De Magistris and Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis confirmed on Thursday that the San Paolo will be renamed in Maradona’s honour, combining his full iconic name with the ground’s current title.
Maradona passed away on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack at the age of 60. The Italian club issued its president’s statement on the official website.
“Dear Diego, You leave us with a great testament of what it means to be a man of fragility, strength and absolute love for life and one’s neighbour. A unique, inimitable champion. Your weaknesses, your imperfections, your mistakes are tantamount to your immense greatness, though none of that compares to your legend,” Laurentiis said.
“It won’t change much, but it’s only right that Maradona has this recognition. Even if we were to build a whole new stadium, I would name it like that.”
Laurentiis further stated, “Your years here remain indelible in the memories of the people of Naples – symbolic of a coveted redemption and yearned-for resurrection. Thank you, Diego. You are, and will always be, with all of us.”
Fans gathered outside the stadium, which was lit in memory of Maradona’s time at the club, in the southern Italian city on Wednesday evening and throughout Thursday.
Maradona had begun his professional career with Argentinos Juniors at the age of 16 and he went on to become one of the greatest players to ever play the game of football.
With Boca Juniors, he won one League title; with Barcelona, he clinched one Copa del Rey, one Spanish Super Cup and one Copa de la Liga; and with Napoli, he lifted a UEFA Cup, two league titles, one Coppa Italia and one Super Cup.
Wearing the traditional No 10 jersey, Maradona led Argentina to soccer’s world championship in 1986, scoring one of the game’s most controversial goals called ‘the hand of God’ and one of its most celebrated in the span of four minutes during the quarterfinals against England. All the fame and infamy that attended his career and his life were on display in that quarterfinal match, on June 22, 1986, when Argentina faced England at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
