Legacy of Captain Ciro Ferrara

Lore & Background

Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys. He led Napoli to their first Serie A league title and their second three years later. He was the first player to set the world record transfer fee twice: in 1982 to Barcelona for £5 million, and in 1984 to Napoli for £6.9 million. In his international career with Argentina, he earned 91 caps and scored 34 goals, captaining the team to victory in the 1986 World Cup and winning the Golden Ball. He scored the 'Hand of God' goal and the 'Goal of the Century' in the 1986 quarterfinal against England.

Reader's Guide

Maradona was an advanced playmaker in the classic number 10 position, known for vision, passing, ball control, dribbling, and free kicks. His small stature gave him a low centre of gravity. He was nicknamed El Pibe de Oro ('The Golden Boy'). He later managed Argentina (2008–2010), Al Wasl (2011–12), Fujairah (2017–2018), Dorados (2018–2019), and Gimnasia de La Plata (2019–2020), and was chairman of Dynamo Brest in 2018.

Did You Know?

• Maradona made his professional debut for Argentinos Juniors on 20 October 1976, ten days before his 16th birthday.
• He scored his first two professional goals on 14 November 1976, two weeks after turning 16.
• Maradona was banned from Napoli for taking cocaine.
• He was born on 30 October 1960 at Policlínico Evita Hospital in Lanús, Buenos Aires Province, to a poor Roman Catholic family.