Diego Maradona has enthralled both fans and critics during the long span of his career. He debuted in professional football during 1975 and played his farewell match in November of 2001. Throughout quarter of a century, Diego Armando Maradona has influenced a multitude of people including some of the top footballers today. In addition to his brilliant skill, the Argentine soccer player has stirred global controversy of unparalled magnitude. Regardless of his addiction to cocaine, failed doping tests and his wild on-pitch antics, Diego Maradona is still regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Maradona is a complete master of the ball who uses his talent and flair at incredible speed. He can beat defenders, he can score, he can distribute the ball... His versatile skills make him unpredictable and very dangerous. Few defenders could stop Diego in his hayday without committing fouls, a fact which has caused him dearly over the years. In addition, his scrawny stature has made him a target for aggressive defenders who simply have no other means of dealing with the Argentine.
Quick Facts
Name
Diego Armando Maradona
Starting Number
#10
Born
30 October 1960 in Villa Fiorito, Buenos Aires
Nationality
Argentine
Height
168 cm / 5'8" feet
Weight
78 kg / 172 pounds (1997)
Family Status
Has two daughters (Dalma and Giannina) from his former wife Claudia Villafane; has an illegitimate son (Diego Armando Junior) form Christiana Sinagra; other women are suing him for child support
Foot
Left
Teams
Argentinos Juniors (Buenos Aires)Boca Juniors (Buenos Aires)Barcelona (Spain)Napoli (Italy)Sevilla (Spain)Newell's Old Boys (Rosario)
Nicknames
The KingPibe de OroGolden Boy
Skills
Dribbling, flair, creativity
Source : www.expertfootball.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maradona is a complete master of the ball who uses his talent and flair at incredible speed. He can beat defenders, he can score, he can distribute the ball... His versatile skills make him unpredictable and very dangerous. Few defenders could stop Diego in his hayday without committing fouls, a fact which has caused him dearly over the years. In addition, his scrawny stature has made him a target for aggressive defenders who simply have no other means of dealing with the Argentine.
Quick Facts
Name
Diego Armando Maradona
Starting Number
#10
Born
30 October 1960 in Villa Fiorito, Buenos Aires
Nationality
Argentine
Height
168 cm / 5'8" feet
Weight
78 kg / 172 pounds (1997)
Family Status
Has two daughters (Dalma and Giannina) from his former wife Claudia Villafane; has an illegitimate son (Diego Armando Junior) form Christiana Sinagra; other women are suing him for child support
Foot
Left
Teams
Argentinos Juniors (Buenos Aires)Boca Juniors (Buenos Aires)Barcelona (Spain)Napoli (Italy)Sevilla (Spain)Newell's Old Boys (Rosario)
Nicknames
The KingPibe de OroGolden Boy
Skills
Dribbling, flair, creativity
Source : www.expertfootball.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA, THE GREATEST FOOTBALL PLAYER EVER
Diego Armando Maradona has been the greatest football player ever! To prove this, just think that the most beautiful goal in the history of football was scored by Maradona in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico against England, when he dribbled 6 English players and the goalkeeper scoring an amazing goal... just few minutes after his world-famous "Hand of God" goal, when he scored with his hand and the referee did not notice that.
Born on October 30, 1960 in the poor slums of Villa Fiorito in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Diego grew up with soccer. In the halftime of the Argentinos Juniors matches, a young boy from the youth team entertained the audience playing and juggling with the ball. "¡Que se quede!, ¡que se quede!" (=let him stay!) the fans in the stadium said. His quick football career started in Argentinos Juniors where he made his debut in the Argentina first division at 15 years of age. He then joined Boca Juniors and led the Argentina youth team to win the world cup in 1979. After the 1982 world cup in Spain, when he was already an idol, he joined Barcelona and played in Spain for two seasons. In 1984 the dreams of millions of Napoli fans throughout the world became reality: he joined the team where he would win two Italian Championships in 1986/87 and 1989/90, one Coppa Italia (1987), one UEFA cup (1989) and one Supercoppa Italiana (1990). In the meantime, he became the hero of Argentina's triumph in Mexico 1986 World Cup where he almost single-handedly led the team to the final victory. Unfortunately, after failing a dope test in 1991 he was banned from the soccer fields. After the suspension, he went to Spain to play for Sevilla and then back to Argentina with Newell's Old Boys. Then, after a pair of coachings in Argentina for Deportivo Mandiyú and Racing de Avellaneda, he came back to play for Boca Juniors.
In the World Cup of 1994 in the USA, Maradona was tested after the match against Nigeria and was found to have used "ephedrine", not permitted by FIFA. He was suspended from playing soccer for more than a year as punishment. Although Argentina came in with a strong team in the 1994 World Cup, everything went downhill and, without their captain, they were soon defeated.
After the suspension, he started playing again for Boca Juniors until 1997: on October 30, 1997, day of his 37th birthday, he retired from football.
Nobody can judge somebody else's life. Even less can anyone judge such a difficult life as the one of a world-famous personality. But we must all judge Maradona for what he showed on the football fields all over the world, and we will certainly all agree that the spectacle he brought to the world of sports is something really unique and unforgettable. Thanks for everything, DIEGO.
Source : www.vivadiego.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diego Armando Maradona has been the greatest football player ever! To prove this, just think that the most beautiful goal in the history of football was scored by Maradona in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico against England, when he dribbled 6 English players and the goalkeeper scoring an amazing goal... just few minutes after his world-famous "Hand of God" goal, when he scored with his hand and the referee did not notice that.
Born on October 30, 1960 in the poor slums of Villa Fiorito in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Diego grew up with soccer. In the halftime of the Argentinos Juniors matches, a young boy from the youth team entertained the audience playing and juggling with the ball. "¡Que se quede!, ¡que se quede!" (=let him stay!) the fans in the stadium said. His quick football career started in Argentinos Juniors where he made his debut in the Argentina first division at 15 years of age. He then joined Boca Juniors and led the Argentina youth team to win the world cup in 1979. After the 1982 world cup in Spain, when he was already an idol, he joined Barcelona and played in Spain for two seasons. In 1984 the dreams of millions of Napoli fans throughout the world became reality: he joined the team where he would win two Italian Championships in 1986/87 and 1989/90, one Coppa Italia (1987), one UEFA cup (1989) and one Supercoppa Italiana (1990). In the meantime, he became the hero of Argentina's triumph in Mexico 1986 World Cup where he almost single-handedly led the team to the final victory. Unfortunately, after failing a dope test in 1991 he was banned from the soccer fields. After the suspension, he went to Spain to play for Sevilla and then back to Argentina with Newell's Old Boys. Then, after a pair of coachings in Argentina for Deportivo Mandiyú and Racing de Avellaneda, he came back to play for Boca Juniors.
In the World Cup of 1994 in the USA, Maradona was tested after the match against Nigeria and was found to have used "ephedrine", not permitted by FIFA. He was suspended from playing soccer for more than a year as punishment. Although Argentina came in with a strong team in the 1994 World Cup, everything went downhill and, without their captain, they were soon defeated.
After the suspension, he started playing again for Boca Juniors until 1997: on October 30, 1997, day of his 37th birthday, he retired from football.
Nobody can judge somebody else's life. Even less can anyone judge such a difficult life as the one of a world-famous personality. But we must all judge Maradona for what he showed on the football fields all over the world, and we will certainly all agree that the spectacle he brought to the world of sports is something really unique and unforgettable. Thanks for everything, DIEGO.
Source : www.vivadiego.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA, THE GREATEST SOCCER PLAYER IN THE WORLD
Personal information
Full name
Diego Armando Maradona
Date of birth
October 30, 1960 (1960-10-30) (age 47)
Place of birth
Villa Fiorito, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height
1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Playing position
Supporting striker,Attacking Midfielder
Youth clubs
1969–76
Argentinos Juniors
Senior clubs1
Years
Club
App (Gls)*
1976–19811981–19821982–19841984–19911992–199319931995–1997
Argentinos JuniorsBoca JuniorsBarcelonaNapoliSevillaNewell's Old BoysBoca JuniorsCareer
166 (116)040 0(28)058 0(38)259 (115)029 00(7)007 00(0)031 00(7)590 (311)
National team
1977–1994
Argentina
091 0(34)
Teams managed
Mandiyú de CorrientesRacing Club de Avellaneda
1 Senior club appearances and goalscounted for the domestic league only.* Appearances (Goals)
Diego Armando Maradona (born October 30, 1960) is a former Argentine football player. He played in four World Cups and received the people's choice FIFA Player of the Century award, after being voted in 2000 in an internet poll on the organisation's website to decide the best player of the 20th century.
Maradona won many trophies with Boca Juniors, FC Barcelona and SSC Napoli over the course of his career. During an international career that included 91 caps and 34 goals, he played in four FIFA World Cup tournaments, leading the Argentina national team to its victory over West Germany in 1986 World Cup, in which he collected the Golden Ball award as the tournament's best player. He scored both goals in the 2-1 victory over England in the quarter-final of the '86 tournament. The first goal was an unpenalized handball known as the "Hand of God", while the second goal was a spectacular 60-metre weave through six England players, commonly referred to as "The Goal of the Century" or, in Argentina, "The Cosmic Kite" (Spanish: El barrilete cósmico).
He is also considered one of the sport's most controversial figures. Maradona was suspended for 15 months in 1991 after a failed doping test for cocaine in Italy, and then again for ephedrine during the 1994 World Cup in USA.
After retiring from playing on his 37th birthday in 1997,[3] he suffered ill health and weight gain, hardly helped by ongoing cocaine abuse. However, a stomach stapling operation helped control his weight gain. Since overcoming his cocaine addiction, he has become a TV host in Argentina.[4]
Early years
Diego Armando Maradona was born in Villa Fiorito, a shantytown on the southern outskirts of Buenos Aires,[5] to a poor family that had moved from Corrientes Province. He was the first son after three daughters. He has two younger brothers, Hugo (el Turco) and Eduardo (Lalo), both of whom were also professional football players.
At age 11, Maradona was spotted by a talent scout while he was playing in his neighborhood club Estrella Roja. He became a staple of Los Cebollitas (The Little Onions), the junior team of Buenos Aires's Argentinos Juniors. As a 12-year-old ball boy, he amused spectators by showing his wizardry with the ball during the halftime intermissions of first division games.[6]
Playing style
Maradona had a compact physique and could withstand physical pressure well. His strong legs and low center of gravity gave him an advantage in short sprints. His physical strengths were illustrated by his two goals against Belgium in the 1986 World Cup. Maradona was a strategist and a team player, as well as highly technical with the ball. He could manage himself effectively in limited spaces, and would attract defenders only to quickly dash out of the melee (as in the second 1986 goal against England),[7] or give an assist to a free teammate. Being short, but strong, he could hold the ball long enough with a defender on his back to wait for a teammate making a run or to find a gap for a quick shot.
One of Maradona's trademark moves was dribbling full-speed as a left wing, and on reaching the opponent's goal line, delivering lethally accurate passes to his teammates. Another trademark was the Rabona, a reverse-cross pass shot behind the leg that holds all the weight. This maneuver led to several assists, such as the powerful cross for Ramón Díaz's header in the 1980 friendly against Switzerland. He was also a dangerous free kick taker.
Club career
Maradona made his professional debut on October 20, 1976 ten days before his sixteenth birthday, with Argentinos Juniors. He played there between 1976 and 1981, before his £1m transfer to the club that he supported, Boca Juniors. Joining the squad midway through the 1981 season, Maradona played through 1982, and secured his first league winners' medal. After the 1982 World Cup, in June, Maradona was transferred to FC Barcelona in Spain for a then world record £5m. In 1983, under coach César Luis Menotti, Barcelona and Maradona won the Copa del Rey (Spain's annual national cup competition), beating Real Madrid. However, Maradona had a difficult tenure in Barcelona. First a bout with hepatitis, then an ill-timed tackle by Athletic Bilbao's Andoni Goikoetxea jeopardized his career, but Maradona's physical strength and willpower made it possible for him to be back on the pitch after only 14 weeks. It is believed that it was while playing for Barcelona that Maradona was introduced to cocaine, to which he would become addicted.
The Napoli era
Maradona got into frequent disputes with Barcelona's directors, especially club president Josep Lluís Nuñez. In 1984, he demanded a transfer out of Nou Camp. He subsequently went to Serie A and SSC Napoli for another record fee, £6.9m, and became an adored star among the club's fans, as he elevated the team to its most successful era. Napoli won their only Italian Championships (1986/87 and 1989/1990), a Coppa Italia (1987), a UEFA Cup (1989) and an Italian Supercup (1990). Napoli were also runners-up in the Italian Championship twice, in 1987/88 and 1988/89, as well as being runners-up in the Coppa Italia in 1988/89. Maradona was the top scorer in Serie A in 1987/88, but during his time in Naples he faced a scandal there regarding an illegitimate son; he was also the object of some suspicion over an alleged friendship with the Camorra.
Maradona left Napoli in 1992, after serving a 15-month ban for failing a drug test for cocaine. He played for Sevilla FC (1992–93), Newell's Old Boys (1993) and Boca Juniors (1995–97). He also attempted to work as a coach on two short stints, leading Mandiyú of Corrientes (1994) and Racing Club (1995), but without much success. He retired from football on October 30, 1997, his 37th birthday.
International career
He debuted with the Argentina national football team ("la selección"), at age 16, against Hungary. At age 18, he played the Football World Youth Championship for Argentina, and was the star of the tournament, shining in their 3–1 final win over the USSR team.
1982 World Cup
Maradona played his first World Cup tournament in 1982. In the first round, Argentina, the defending champions, lost to Belgium. Although the team convincingly beat Hungary and El Salvador to progress to the second round, they were defeated in the second round by Brazil and by eventual winners Italy. Maradona played in all five matches without being substituted, scoring twice against Hungary, but was sent off with 5 minutes remaining in the game against Brazil for serious foul play.
1986 World Cup
Maradona captained the Argentine national team to victory in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, winning the final in Mexico against West Germany. Throughout the 1986 World Cup, Maradona asserted his dominance and was the most dynamic player of the tournament. He played every minute of every Argentina game, scored 5 goals and made 5 assists. However, it was the two goals he scored in a 2-1 quarter-final win against England which cemented his legend.
Replays showed that the first goal was scored by striking the ball with his hand. Maradona was coyly evasive, describing it as "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God." The play became known as the "Hand of God," or "la mano de Dios." Ultimately, on 22 August 2005 Maradona acknowledged on his television show that he hit the ball with his hand purposely, and that he immediately knew the goal was illegitimate. He recalled thinking right after the goal that
“
I was waiting for my teammates to embrace me, and no one came . . . I told them, 'Come hug me, or the referee isn't going to allow it.'
”
In contrast, Maradona's second goal was a triumph of Maradona's technique and dribbling ability. He picked up the ball in his own half and with 11 touches swiveled around and ran more than half the length of the field, dribbling past five English players: (Glenn Hoddle, Peter Reid, Kenny Sansom, Terry Butcher, and Terry Fenwick) and goalkeeper Peter Shilton. This goal was voted the Goal of the Century in a 2002 online poll conducted by FIFA. In 2002, the two goals were ranked 6th in the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments by the UK's Channel 4 television channel.
Maradona followed this with two more goals in the semifinal against Belgium. In the final, the opposing West German side attempted to contain him by double-marking, but he nevertheless found the space to give the final service to Jorge Burruchaga for the winning goal. Argentina beat West Germany 3-2 and Maradona lifted the World Cup trophy after dominating the tournament in a historic fashion.
1990 World Cup
Maradona captained Argentina again in the 1990 FIFA World Cup. An ankle injury affected his overall performance, and he was much less dominant than four years earlier. Argentina were almost eliminated in the first round, only qualifying in third position from their group.
In the round of 16 match against Brazil, a Maradona run from his own half set up the opportunity for Claudio Caniggia to score the game's only goal. In the quarterfinal round, Argentina faced Yugoslavia, the match ending 0-0 after 120 minutes, and Argentina advancing on penalty kicks, despite Maradona missing one of the penalties in the shootout. The semifinal against the host nation Italy was also resolved on penalties after a 1-1 draw; this time, Maradona was successful with his effort. In the final, Argentina lost 1-0 to West Germany, the only goal being a penalty by Andreas Brehme in the 85th minute after a controversial foul on Rudi Voller.
1994 World Cup
At the 1994 FIFA World Cup Maradona played in two games, scoring one goal against Greece, before being sent home after failing a drug test for ephedrine doping. In his autobiography, Maradona argued that the test result was due to his personal trainer giving him the power drink Rip Fuel. His claim was that the U.S. version, unlike the Argentine one, contained the chemical and that, having run out of his Argentinian dosage, his trainer unwittingly bought the U.S. formula. FIFA subsequently expelled him from USA '94 and Argentina were subsequently eliminated in the second round. Maradona has also separately claimed that he had an agreement with FIFA, on which the organization reneged, to allow him to use the drug for weight loss before the competition in order to be able to play. According to Maradona, this was so that the World Cup would not lose prestige because of his absence. This allegation was never proved, and many fans attribute his comment ("they cut off my legs") to his anger at being suspended.
Retirement and honours
In 2000, Maradona published his autobiography Yo Soy El Diego ("I am The Diego"), which became an instant bestseller[12] in his home country. Two years later, Maradona donated the Cuban royalties of his book to "the Cuban people and Fidel."[13]
FIFA conducted a fan poll on the Internet in 2000, to elect the Player of the Century. Maradona finished top of the poll with 53.6% of the vote. Subsequently, however, and contrary to the original announcement of how the award would be decided, FIFA appointed a "Football Family" committee of football experts that voted to award Pelé the title. Maradona protested at the change in procedure, and declared he would not attend the ceremony if Pelé replaced him. Eventually, two awards were made, one to each of the pair. Maradona accepted his prize, but left the ceremony without waiting to see Pelé receive his accolade.
In 2001, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) asked FIFA for authorization to retire the jersey number 10 for Maradona. FIFA did not grant the request, even though Argentine officials have maintained that FIFA hinted that it would.
Maradona has won other fan polls, including a 2002 FIFA poll in which his second goal against England was chosen as the best goal ever scored in a World Cup; he also won the most votes in a poll to determine the All-Time Ultimate World Cup Team.
Argentinos Juniors named its stadium after Maradona on December 26, 2003.
On 22 June 2005, it was announced that Maradona would return to Boca Juniors as a sports vice president in charge of managing the First Division roster (after a disappointing 2004–05 season, which coincided with Boca's centenary). His contract began 1 August 2005, and one of his first recommendations proved to be very effective: he was the one who decided to hire Alfio Basile as the new coach. With Maradona fostering a close relationship with the players, Boca went on to win the 2005 Apertura title, the 2006 Clausura title, the 2005 Copa Sudamericana and the 2005 Recopa Sudamericana.
On 15 August 2005, Maradona made his debut as host of a talk-variety show on Argentine television, La Noche del 10 ("The Night of the no. 10"). His main guest on opening night was Pelé; the two had a friendly chat, showing no signs of past differences. However, the show also included a cartoon villain with a clear physical resemblance to Pelé. In subsequent evenings, he led the ratings on all occasions but one. Most guests were drawn from the worlds of football and show business, including Zidane, Ronaldo and Hernán Crespo, but also included interviews with other notable personalities such as Fidel Castro and Mike Tyson.
On August 26, 2006, it was announced that Maradona was quitting his position in the club Boca Juniors because of disagreements with the AFA, who selected Basile to be the new coach of the Argentina National Football Team.
The award-winning Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica is preparing a documentary about Maradona's life, entitled Maradona. The film is currently in post-production, and its release is expected in 2007. Italian-Australian actor Marco Leonardi has been confirmed to play the footballer in the film.
In September 2006, Maradona, in his famous blue and white number 10, was the captain for Argentina in a three-day World Cup of Indoor Football tournament in Spain.
In 2006, Diego Maradona was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador of the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition, IIMSAM.[17]
Personal agents
Jorge Cyterszpiller, a childhood friend, was Maradona's first agent. He set up Maradona Producciones but did not score any major successes with merchandising, as counterfeiters would quickly imitate any product that came on the market. On his advice, Maradona started charging for interviews, a move that generated some controversy.
After breaking up with Cyterszpiller, Maradona hooked up with Guillermo Coppola, a bank employee who had started representing players as a hobby and was already a major agent in the mid-1980s. Coppola oversaw the biggest contracts of Maradona's career, but also was involved in the drug scandals of the early 1990s. Maradona and Coppola parted ways acrimoniously, and they still refer to the end of their relations as an "open wound".
Personal life
Maradona married long-time fiancée Claudia Villafañe on November 7, 1989 in Buenos Aires, after the birth of their daughters, Dalma Nerea (b. 1987) and Giannina Dinorah (b. 1989). In his autobiography, Maradona admits he was not always faithful to Claudia, even though he refers to her as the love of his life.
Maradona and Villafañe divorced in 2004. Daughter Dalma has since asserted that the divorce was the best solution for all, as her parents remained on friendly terms. They traveled together to Napoli for a series of homages in June 2005 and were seen together on many other occasions, including the Argentina matches during 2006 FIFA World Cup.
During the divorce proceedings, Maradona admitted he was the father of Diego Sinagra (b. Naples, 1986), as was claimed by the youth's mother Cristiana Sinagra. (The Italian courts had so ruled in 1993, after Maradona refused to undergo DNA tests for proving or disproving his paternity.) Diego Jr. met Maradona for the first time in May 2003 after tricking his way onto a golf course in Naples where Maradona was playing.
After the divorce, Claudia embarked on a career as a theatre producer, and Dalma is seeking an acting career; she has expressed her desire to attend the Actor's Studio in Los Angeles. Maradona has authored an autobiography entitled "Yo Soy El Diego" chronicling his life, both on and off the playing field. His autobiography was translated and published in English as Maradona: The Autobiography of Soccer's Greatest and Most Controversial Star. (ISBN 1602390274)
Drug abuse and health situation
Since the 1990s, Maradona has had difficulties with cocaine abuse, which included spells in Swiss and Cuban detox clinics. Between 2002 and 2005, Maradona spent most of his time in Cuba.
On April 18, 2004, doctors reported that Maradona had suffered a major heart attack following a cocaine overdose; he was admitted to intensive care in a Buenos Aires hospital. Scores of fans gathered around the clinic. Days after the heart attack, a nurse was caught taking photos of Maradona with a mobile phone and was promptly fired by the hospital managers.
Fortunately he showed improvement and was taken off the respirator on April 23 and remained in intensive care for several days before being discharged on April 29. He returned to Cuba in May.
Maradona has always had a tendency to put on weight, and suffered increasingly with obesity from the end of his playing career until undergoing gastric bypass surgery in a clinic in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia on March 6, 2005. When Maradona resumed public appearances shortly thereafter, he displayed a notably thinner figure.
However, on March 29, 2007, Maradona was readmitted to a hospital in Buenos Aires. He was treated for hepatitis and effects of alcohol abuse, and was released on 11 April, but re-admitted two days later. In the following days there were constant rumors on his health, including three false claims of his death within a month. After transfer to a psychiatric clinic specialising in alcohol-related problems, he was discharged on May 7.
On May 8, 2007, Maradona appeared on Argentine television and stated that he has quit drinking and has not used drugs in two and a half years.
Political views
During the nineties, Diego Maradona supported the presidency of Carlos Menem in Argentina. In more recent years, Maradona has shown more sympathy to left-wing ideologies. He became friends with Fidel Castro while in treatment in Cuba. He has a portrait of Castro tattooed on his left leg and one of Ernesto "Che" Guevara on his right arm.[25]
Maradona is also a supporter of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. In 2005 he visited Venezuela with the specific aim of meeting Chávez, who received him in Miraflores. After this meeting Maradona claimed that he had come with the aim of meeting a "great man" ("un grande" in Spanish) but he had met instead a gigantic man ("un gigante" in Spanish, meaning he was more than great). "I believe in Chávez, I am Chávista. Everything Fidel does, everything Chávez does, for me is the best."[26]
He has declared his opposition to imperialism, notably during the 2005 Summit of the Americas in Mar del Plata, Argentina. There he protested George W. Bush's presence in Argentina, wearing a T-shirt labeled "STOP BU卐H" and referring to Bush as "human garbage".
In August 2007, Maradona went further, making an appearance on Chávez's weekly television show and saying: "I hate everything that comes from the United States. I hate it with all my strength."
In December 2007, Maradona gave a gift to the people of Iran. He said, "Estoy con los iraníes de todo corazón, de verdad lo digo, lo digo porque lo siento y estoy con el pueblo de Irán [I'm with the Iranians, with all my heart. I mean it. I say it because I feel it. I stand with the people of Iran]," presenting Iran's charge d'affaires in Argentina Mohsen Baharvand with his token of love for Iran, a shirt that he autographed "Con todo mi cariño para el pueblo de Irán [With all my love for the people of Iran]." The shirt will be displayed in Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs' museum. Maradona also expressed his wish to meet Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Reputation
Ever since 1986, it is common for Argentines abroad to hear Maradona's name as a token of recognition, even in remote places. In Argentina, Maradona is often talked about in terms reserved for legends. In the Argentine film El Hijo de la Novia ("The bride's son"), an actor who plays a fake Catholic priest says to a bar patron: "they idolized him and then crucified him". When scolded by a friend for taking the prank too far, the fake priest retorts: "But I was talking about Maradona".
In Rosario city, Argentina, fans organized the "Church of Maradona." Maradona's 43rd birthday in 2003 marked the start of the Year 43 D.D. - "Después de Diego" or After Diego - for its founding 200 members. Tens of thousands more have become members via the church's official web site.
Hounded for years by the press, Maradona even fired a compressed-air rifle against reporters who, so he claimed, invaded his privacy. This quote from former teammate Jorge Valdano summarizes the feelings of many:
“
He is someone many people want to emulate, a controversial figure, loved, hated, who stirs great upheaval, especially in Argentina... Stressing his personal life is a mistake. Maradona has no peers inside the pitch, but he has turned his life into a show, and is now living a personal ordeal that should not be imitated. [32]
”
A television commercial for Brazilian soft drink Guaraná Antarctica portrayed Maradona as a member of the Brazilian national football team, including wearing the yellow jersey and singing the Brazilian national anthem with Brazilian caps Kaká and Ronaldo. Later on in the commercial he wakes up realizing it was nightmare after having drank too much of the soft drink. This generated some controversy in the Argentine media after its release (although the commercial was not supposed to air on the Argentine market, fans could see it via internet. Maradona replied that he has no problem in wearing the Brazilian national squad jersey, instead, only in wearing River Plate's jersey.
In May 2006, Maradona agreed to take part in UK's Soccer Aid (a program to raise money for Unicef). Maradona scored a penalty but it was too late to save the match which England won 2-1.
Career statistics
Club
His overall average of goals scored per match in domestic club competitions is 0.53.
International
Started in 21 consecutive matches for Argentina in four World Cups (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994)
Appeared a World Cup-record 16 times as captain of the national team.
Scored 8 goals and made 8 assists in 21 World Cup appearances, including 5 goals and 5 assists in 1986
Tied for second-highest goal-scorer from Argentina in World Cup finals (equaled Guillermo Stabile's mark in 1994; surpassed by Gabriel Batistuta in 1998)
Statistics
Club Performance
League
Cup
League Cup
Total
Season
Club
League
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Argentina
League
Cup
League Cup
Total
1976
Argentinos Juniors
Primera División
11
2
-
-
11
2
1977
49
19
-
-
49
19
1978
35
25
-
-
35
25
1979
27
26
-
-
27
26
1980
45
43
-
-
45
43
1981
Boca Juniors
Primera División
40
28
-
-
40
28
Spain
League
Copa del Rey
Copa de la Liga
Total
1982-83
Barcelona
La Liga
20
11
5
3
4
5
29
19
1983-84
16
11
4
1
3
3
23
15
Italy
League
Coppa Italia
League Cup
Total
1984-85
Napoli
Serie A
30
14
6
3
-
36
17
1985-86
29
11
2
2
-
31
13
1986-87
29
10
10
7
2
0
41
17
1987-88
28
15
9
6
2
0
39
21
1988-89
26
9
21
7
12
3
50
19
1989-90
28
16
3
2
5
0
36
18
1990-91
18
6
3
2
4
2
25
10
Spain
League
Copa del Rey
Copa de la Liga
Total
1992-93
Sevilla
La Liga
26
5
3
3
-
29
7
Argentina
League
Cup
League Cup
Total
1993-94
Newell's Old Boys
Primera División
7
0
-
-
7
0
1995-96
Boca Juniors
Primera División
11
3
-
-
11
3
1996-97
13
2
-
-
13
2
1997-98
6
2
-
-
6
2
Total
Argentina
240
150
-
-
240
150
Spain
62
27
12
7
7
8
81
42
Italy
188
81
54
29
25
5
267
115
Career Total
490
258
66
36
32
13
588
307
Honours
Club
Boca Juniors
Primera División: 1981
FC Barcelona
Copa del Rey: 1983
Copa de la Liga: 1982
Spanish Super Cup: 1983
SSC Napoli
Serie A: 1987
Coppa Italia: 1987
Capocannoniere: 1988
UEFA Cup: 1989
Serie A: 1990
Italian Super Cup: 1991
Country
Argentina
FIFA World Youth Championship: 1979
FIFA World Cup: 1986
1990 FIFA World Cup: Runner-up
Artemio Franchi Trophy: 1993
75th anniversary FIFA Cup: 1979
Individual
Golden Ball for Best Player of the FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1979
Argentine league Top Scorer: 1979, 1980, 1981
Argentine Football Writers' Footballer of the Year: 1979–1981, 1986
South American Footballer of the Year (El Mundo, Caracas):1979, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992
Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Year: 1986
Golden Ball for Best Player of the FIFA World Cup: 1986
Best Footballer in the World (Once): 1986–1987
World Player of the Year (World Soccer Magazine): 1986
Golden Ball for services to football (France Football): 1996
Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Century: 1999
"FIFA best football player of the century", people's choice: 2000
"FIFA Goal of the Century" (1986 (2–1) v. England; second goal): 2002
Argentine Senate "Domingo Faustino Sarmiento" recognition for lifetime achievement: 2005
Coaching career
1994 Mandiyú de Corrientes
1995 Racing Club de Avellaneda
He also won a cup with Racing Club de Avellaneda
Trivia
The song Aj aj kylarspray ("Ouch Ouch Cooling Spray") by the Swedish band Joddla Med Siv deals with Maradona's childhood, his time at Napoli and the 1990 world cup final between Argentina and West Germany.
Mano Negra's final album, Casa Babylon contains the song Santa Maradona, which became one of the band's greatest hits.
Los Piojos released two songs dedicated to Maradona in their 1996 album Tercer Arco, Intro Maradó and Maradó, and have played them live in almost every show since. A live version featuring Maradona himself was released in their 1999 live album, Ritual.
Argentine singer Rodrigo Bueno wrote La Mano de Dios ("The Hand of God"), dedicated to Diego Maradona. Maradona mentioned Rodrigo in his autobiography, and covered the song himself in his 2005 TV show (changing the lyrics from third person to first).
Long Island alternative band Brand New recorded a song called "Me Vs. Maradona Vs. Elvis" on their 2003 CD Deja Entendu.
Manu Chao dedicates a song (La Vida Tómbola) in the album La Radiolina to Maradona.
Los Cafres one of the most important reggae band in Argentina, dedicate to Maradona the song "Capitan Pelusa" ("Captain Fuzz"). "Pelusa" ("Fuzz") is one of the nicknames of Diego Maradona because his tiny height.
Awards
Preceded byMario Kempes
South American Footballer of the Year1979, 1980
Succeeded byZico
Preceded byDaniel Martinazzo
Olimpia de Oro1979
Succeeded bySergio Víctor Palma
Preceded byMichel Platini
World Soccer Player of the Year1986
Succeeded byRuud Gullit
Preceded byPaolo Rossi
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball1986
Succeeded byLothar Matthäus
Preceded byKarl-Heinz Rummenigge
FIFA World Cup Silver Boot1986
Succeeded byTomáš Skuhravý
Preceded bySteve Cram
United Press InternationalAthlete of the Year1986
Succeeded byBen Johnson
Preceded byHugo Porta
Olimpia de Oro1986
Succeeded byGabriela Sabatini
Sporting positions
Preceded byDino Zoff(Italy)
FIFA World Cupwinning captain1986
Succeeded byLothar Matthäus(West Germany)
Source : www.en.wikipedia.org
Personal information
Full name
Diego Armando Maradona
Date of birth
October 30, 1960 (1960-10-30) (age 47)
Place of birth
Villa Fiorito, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height
1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Playing position
Supporting striker,Attacking Midfielder
Youth clubs
1969–76
Argentinos Juniors
Senior clubs1
Years
Club
App (Gls)*
1976–19811981–19821982–19841984–19911992–199319931995–1997
Argentinos JuniorsBoca JuniorsBarcelonaNapoliSevillaNewell's Old BoysBoca JuniorsCareer
166 (116)040 0(28)058 0(38)259 (115)029 00(7)007 00(0)031 00(7)590 (311)
National team
1977–1994
Argentina
091 0(34)
Teams managed
Mandiyú de CorrientesRacing Club de Avellaneda
1 Senior club appearances and goalscounted for the domestic league only.* Appearances (Goals)
Diego Armando Maradona (born October 30, 1960) is a former Argentine football player. He played in four World Cups and received the people's choice FIFA Player of the Century award, after being voted in 2000 in an internet poll on the organisation's website to decide the best player of the 20th century.
Maradona won many trophies with Boca Juniors, FC Barcelona and SSC Napoli over the course of his career. During an international career that included 91 caps and 34 goals, he played in four FIFA World Cup tournaments, leading the Argentina national team to its victory over West Germany in 1986 World Cup, in which he collected the Golden Ball award as the tournament's best player. He scored both goals in the 2-1 victory over England in the quarter-final of the '86 tournament. The first goal was an unpenalized handball known as the "Hand of God", while the second goal was a spectacular 60-metre weave through six England players, commonly referred to as "The Goal of the Century" or, in Argentina, "The Cosmic Kite" (Spanish: El barrilete cósmico).
He is also considered one of the sport's most controversial figures. Maradona was suspended for 15 months in 1991 after a failed doping test for cocaine in Italy, and then again for ephedrine during the 1994 World Cup in USA.
After retiring from playing on his 37th birthday in 1997,[3] he suffered ill health and weight gain, hardly helped by ongoing cocaine abuse. However, a stomach stapling operation helped control his weight gain. Since overcoming his cocaine addiction, he has become a TV host in Argentina.[4]
Early years
Diego Armando Maradona was born in Villa Fiorito, a shantytown on the southern outskirts of Buenos Aires,[5] to a poor family that had moved from Corrientes Province. He was the first son after three daughters. He has two younger brothers, Hugo (el Turco) and Eduardo (Lalo), both of whom were also professional football players.
At age 11, Maradona was spotted by a talent scout while he was playing in his neighborhood club Estrella Roja. He became a staple of Los Cebollitas (The Little Onions), the junior team of Buenos Aires's Argentinos Juniors. As a 12-year-old ball boy, he amused spectators by showing his wizardry with the ball during the halftime intermissions of first division games.[6]
Playing style
Maradona had a compact physique and could withstand physical pressure well. His strong legs and low center of gravity gave him an advantage in short sprints. His physical strengths were illustrated by his two goals against Belgium in the 1986 World Cup. Maradona was a strategist and a team player, as well as highly technical with the ball. He could manage himself effectively in limited spaces, and would attract defenders only to quickly dash out of the melee (as in the second 1986 goal against England),[7] or give an assist to a free teammate. Being short, but strong, he could hold the ball long enough with a defender on his back to wait for a teammate making a run or to find a gap for a quick shot.
One of Maradona's trademark moves was dribbling full-speed as a left wing, and on reaching the opponent's goal line, delivering lethally accurate passes to his teammates. Another trademark was the Rabona, a reverse-cross pass shot behind the leg that holds all the weight. This maneuver led to several assists, such as the powerful cross for Ramón Díaz's header in the 1980 friendly against Switzerland. He was also a dangerous free kick taker.
Club career
Maradona made his professional debut on October 20, 1976 ten days before his sixteenth birthday, with Argentinos Juniors. He played there between 1976 and 1981, before his £1m transfer to the club that he supported, Boca Juniors. Joining the squad midway through the 1981 season, Maradona played through 1982, and secured his first league winners' medal. After the 1982 World Cup, in June, Maradona was transferred to FC Barcelona in Spain for a then world record £5m. In 1983, under coach César Luis Menotti, Barcelona and Maradona won the Copa del Rey (Spain's annual national cup competition), beating Real Madrid. However, Maradona had a difficult tenure in Barcelona. First a bout with hepatitis, then an ill-timed tackle by Athletic Bilbao's Andoni Goikoetxea jeopardized his career, but Maradona's physical strength and willpower made it possible for him to be back on the pitch after only 14 weeks. It is believed that it was while playing for Barcelona that Maradona was introduced to cocaine, to which he would become addicted.
The Napoli era
Maradona got into frequent disputes with Barcelona's directors, especially club president Josep Lluís Nuñez. In 1984, he demanded a transfer out of Nou Camp. He subsequently went to Serie A and SSC Napoli for another record fee, £6.9m, and became an adored star among the club's fans, as he elevated the team to its most successful era. Napoli won their only Italian Championships (1986/87 and 1989/1990), a Coppa Italia (1987), a UEFA Cup (1989) and an Italian Supercup (1990). Napoli were also runners-up in the Italian Championship twice, in 1987/88 and 1988/89, as well as being runners-up in the Coppa Italia in 1988/89. Maradona was the top scorer in Serie A in 1987/88, but during his time in Naples he faced a scandal there regarding an illegitimate son; he was also the object of some suspicion over an alleged friendship with the Camorra.
Maradona left Napoli in 1992, after serving a 15-month ban for failing a drug test for cocaine. He played for Sevilla FC (1992–93), Newell's Old Boys (1993) and Boca Juniors (1995–97). He also attempted to work as a coach on two short stints, leading Mandiyú of Corrientes (1994) and Racing Club (1995), but without much success. He retired from football on October 30, 1997, his 37th birthday.
International career
He debuted with the Argentina national football team ("la selección"), at age 16, against Hungary. At age 18, he played the Football World Youth Championship for Argentina, and was the star of the tournament, shining in their 3–1 final win over the USSR team.
1982 World Cup
Maradona played his first World Cup tournament in 1982. In the first round, Argentina, the defending champions, lost to Belgium. Although the team convincingly beat Hungary and El Salvador to progress to the second round, they were defeated in the second round by Brazil and by eventual winners Italy. Maradona played in all five matches without being substituted, scoring twice against Hungary, but was sent off with 5 minutes remaining in the game against Brazil for serious foul play.
1986 World Cup
Maradona captained the Argentine national team to victory in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, winning the final in Mexico against West Germany. Throughout the 1986 World Cup, Maradona asserted his dominance and was the most dynamic player of the tournament. He played every minute of every Argentina game, scored 5 goals and made 5 assists. However, it was the two goals he scored in a 2-1 quarter-final win against England which cemented his legend.
Replays showed that the first goal was scored by striking the ball with his hand. Maradona was coyly evasive, describing it as "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God." The play became known as the "Hand of God," or "la mano de Dios." Ultimately, on 22 August 2005 Maradona acknowledged on his television show that he hit the ball with his hand purposely, and that he immediately knew the goal was illegitimate. He recalled thinking right after the goal that
“
I was waiting for my teammates to embrace me, and no one came . . . I told them, 'Come hug me, or the referee isn't going to allow it.'
”
In contrast, Maradona's second goal was a triumph of Maradona's technique and dribbling ability. He picked up the ball in his own half and with 11 touches swiveled around and ran more than half the length of the field, dribbling past five English players: (Glenn Hoddle, Peter Reid, Kenny Sansom, Terry Butcher, and Terry Fenwick) and goalkeeper Peter Shilton. This goal was voted the Goal of the Century in a 2002 online poll conducted by FIFA. In 2002, the two goals were ranked 6th in the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments by the UK's Channel 4 television channel.
Maradona followed this with two more goals in the semifinal against Belgium. In the final, the opposing West German side attempted to contain him by double-marking, but he nevertheless found the space to give the final service to Jorge Burruchaga for the winning goal. Argentina beat West Germany 3-2 and Maradona lifted the World Cup trophy after dominating the tournament in a historic fashion.
1990 World Cup
Maradona captained Argentina again in the 1990 FIFA World Cup. An ankle injury affected his overall performance, and he was much less dominant than four years earlier. Argentina were almost eliminated in the first round, only qualifying in third position from their group.
In the round of 16 match against Brazil, a Maradona run from his own half set up the opportunity for Claudio Caniggia to score the game's only goal. In the quarterfinal round, Argentina faced Yugoslavia, the match ending 0-0 after 120 minutes, and Argentina advancing on penalty kicks, despite Maradona missing one of the penalties in the shootout. The semifinal against the host nation Italy was also resolved on penalties after a 1-1 draw; this time, Maradona was successful with his effort. In the final, Argentina lost 1-0 to West Germany, the only goal being a penalty by Andreas Brehme in the 85th minute after a controversial foul on Rudi Voller.
1994 World Cup
At the 1994 FIFA World Cup Maradona played in two games, scoring one goal against Greece, before being sent home after failing a drug test for ephedrine doping. In his autobiography, Maradona argued that the test result was due to his personal trainer giving him the power drink Rip Fuel. His claim was that the U.S. version, unlike the Argentine one, contained the chemical and that, having run out of his Argentinian dosage, his trainer unwittingly bought the U.S. formula. FIFA subsequently expelled him from USA '94 and Argentina were subsequently eliminated in the second round. Maradona has also separately claimed that he had an agreement with FIFA, on which the organization reneged, to allow him to use the drug for weight loss before the competition in order to be able to play. According to Maradona, this was so that the World Cup would not lose prestige because of his absence. This allegation was never proved, and many fans attribute his comment ("they cut off my legs") to his anger at being suspended.
Retirement and honours
In 2000, Maradona published his autobiography Yo Soy El Diego ("I am The Diego"), which became an instant bestseller[12] in his home country. Two years later, Maradona donated the Cuban royalties of his book to "the Cuban people and Fidel."[13]
FIFA conducted a fan poll on the Internet in 2000, to elect the Player of the Century. Maradona finished top of the poll with 53.6% of the vote. Subsequently, however, and contrary to the original announcement of how the award would be decided, FIFA appointed a "Football Family" committee of football experts that voted to award Pelé the title. Maradona protested at the change in procedure, and declared he would not attend the ceremony if Pelé replaced him. Eventually, two awards were made, one to each of the pair. Maradona accepted his prize, but left the ceremony without waiting to see Pelé receive his accolade.
In 2001, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) asked FIFA for authorization to retire the jersey number 10 for Maradona. FIFA did not grant the request, even though Argentine officials have maintained that FIFA hinted that it would.
Maradona has won other fan polls, including a 2002 FIFA poll in which his second goal against England was chosen as the best goal ever scored in a World Cup; he also won the most votes in a poll to determine the All-Time Ultimate World Cup Team.
Argentinos Juniors named its stadium after Maradona on December 26, 2003.
On 22 June 2005, it was announced that Maradona would return to Boca Juniors as a sports vice president in charge of managing the First Division roster (after a disappointing 2004–05 season, which coincided with Boca's centenary). His contract began 1 August 2005, and one of his first recommendations proved to be very effective: he was the one who decided to hire Alfio Basile as the new coach. With Maradona fostering a close relationship with the players, Boca went on to win the 2005 Apertura title, the 2006 Clausura title, the 2005 Copa Sudamericana and the 2005 Recopa Sudamericana.
On 15 August 2005, Maradona made his debut as host of a talk-variety show on Argentine television, La Noche del 10 ("The Night of the no. 10"). His main guest on opening night was Pelé; the two had a friendly chat, showing no signs of past differences. However, the show also included a cartoon villain with a clear physical resemblance to Pelé. In subsequent evenings, he led the ratings on all occasions but one. Most guests were drawn from the worlds of football and show business, including Zidane, Ronaldo and Hernán Crespo, but also included interviews with other notable personalities such as Fidel Castro and Mike Tyson.
On August 26, 2006, it was announced that Maradona was quitting his position in the club Boca Juniors because of disagreements with the AFA, who selected Basile to be the new coach of the Argentina National Football Team.
The award-winning Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica is preparing a documentary about Maradona's life, entitled Maradona. The film is currently in post-production, and its release is expected in 2007. Italian-Australian actor Marco Leonardi has been confirmed to play the footballer in the film.
In September 2006, Maradona, in his famous blue and white number 10, was the captain for Argentina in a three-day World Cup of Indoor Football tournament in Spain.
In 2006, Diego Maradona was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador of the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition, IIMSAM.[17]
Personal agents
Jorge Cyterszpiller, a childhood friend, was Maradona's first agent. He set up Maradona Producciones but did not score any major successes with merchandising, as counterfeiters would quickly imitate any product that came on the market. On his advice, Maradona started charging for interviews, a move that generated some controversy.
After breaking up with Cyterszpiller, Maradona hooked up with Guillermo Coppola, a bank employee who had started representing players as a hobby and was already a major agent in the mid-1980s. Coppola oversaw the biggest contracts of Maradona's career, but also was involved in the drug scandals of the early 1990s. Maradona and Coppola parted ways acrimoniously, and they still refer to the end of their relations as an "open wound".
Personal life
Maradona married long-time fiancée Claudia Villafañe on November 7, 1989 in Buenos Aires, after the birth of their daughters, Dalma Nerea (b. 1987) and Giannina Dinorah (b. 1989). In his autobiography, Maradona admits he was not always faithful to Claudia, even though he refers to her as the love of his life.
Maradona and Villafañe divorced in 2004. Daughter Dalma has since asserted that the divorce was the best solution for all, as her parents remained on friendly terms. They traveled together to Napoli for a series of homages in June 2005 and were seen together on many other occasions, including the Argentina matches during 2006 FIFA World Cup.
During the divorce proceedings, Maradona admitted he was the father of Diego Sinagra (b. Naples, 1986), as was claimed by the youth's mother Cristiana Sinagra. (The Italian courts had so ruled in 1993, after Maradona refused to undergo DNA tests for proving or disproving his paternity.) Diego Jr. met Maradona for the first time in May 2003 after tricking his way onto a golf course in Naples where Maradona was playing.
After the divorce, Claudia embarked on a career as a theatre producer, and Dalma is seeking an acting career; she has expressed her desire to attend the Actor's Studio in Los Angeles. Maradona has authored an autobiography entitled "Yo Soy El Diego" chronicling his life, both on and off the playing field. His autobiography was translated and published in English as Maradona: The Autobiography of Soccer's Greatest and Most Controversial Star. (ISBN 1602390274)
Drug abuse and health situation
Since the 1990s, Maradona has had difficulties with cocaine abuse, which included spells in Swiss and Cuban detox clinics. Between 2002 and 2005, Maradona spent most of his time in Cuba.
On April 18, 2004, doctors reported that Maradona had suffered a major heart attack following a cocaine overdose; he was admitted to intensive care in a Buenos Aires hospital. Scores of fans gathered around the clinic. Days after the heart attack, a nurse was caught taking photos of Maradona with a mobile phone and was promptly fired by the hospital managers.
Fortunately he showed improvement and was taken off the respirator on April 23 and remained in intensive care for several days before being discharged on April 29. He returned to Cuba in May.
Maradona has always had a tendency to put on weight, and suffered increasingly with obesity from the end of his playing career until undergoing gastric bypass surgery in a clinic in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia on March 6, 2005. When Maradona resumed public appearances shortly thereafter, he displayed a notably thinner figure.
However, on March 29, 2007, Maradona was readmitted to a hospital in Buenos Aires. He was treated for hepatitis and effects of alcohol abuse, and was released on 11 April, but re-admitted two days later. In the following days there were constant rumors on his health, including three false claims of his death within a month. After transfer to a psychiatric clinic specialising in alcohol-related problems, he was discharged on May 7.
On May 8, 2007, Maradona appeared on Argentine television and stated that he has quit drinking and has not used drugs in two and a half years.
Political views
During the nineties, Diego Maradona supported the presidency of Carlos Menem in Argentina. In more recent years, Maradona has shown more sympathy to left-wing ideologies. He became friends with Fidel Castro while in treatment in Cuba. He has a portrait of Castro tattooed on his left leg and one of Ernesto "Che" Guevara on his right arm.[25]
Maradona is also a supporter of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. In 2005 he visited Venezuela with the specific aim of meeting Chávez, who received him in Miraflores. After this meeting Maradona claimed that he had come with the aim of meeting a "great man" ("un grande" in Spanish) but he had met instead a gigantic man ("un gigante" in Spanish, meaning he was more than great). "I believe in Chávez, I am Chávista. Everything Fidel does, everything Chávez does, for me is the best."[26]
He has declared his opposition to imperialism, notably during the 2005 Summit of the Americas in Mar del Plata, Argentina. There he protested George W. Bush's presence in Argentina, wearing a T-shirt labeled "STOP BU卐H" and referring to Bush as "human garbage".
In August 2007, Maradona went further, making an appearance on Chávez's weekly television show and saying: "I hate everything that comes from the United States. I hate it with all my strength."
In December 2007, Maradona gave a gift to the people of Iran. He said, "Estoy con los iraníes de todo corazón, de verdad lo digo, lo digo porque lo siento y estoy con el pueblo de Irán [I'm with the Iranians, with all my heart. I mean it. I say it because I feel it. I stand with the people of Iran]," presenting Iran's charge d'affaires in Argentina Mohsen Baharvand with his token of love for Iran, a shirt that he autographed "Con todo mi cariño para el pueblo de Irán [With all my love for the people of Iran]." The shirt will be displayed in Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs' museum. Maradona also expressed his wish to meet Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Reputation
Ever since 1986, it is common for Argentines abroad to hear Maradona's name as a token of recognition, even in remote places. In Argentina, Maradona is often talked about in terms reserved for legends. In the Argentine film El Hijo de la Novia ("The bride's son"), an actor who plays a fake Catholic priest says to a bar patron: "they idolized him and then crucified him". When scolded by a friend for taking the prank too far, the fake priest retorts: "But I was talking about Maradona".
In Rosario city, Argentina, fans organized the "Church of Maradona." Maradona's 43rd birthday in 2003 marked the start of the Year 43 D.D. - "Después de Diego" or After Diego - for its founding 200 members. Tens of thousands more have become members via the church's official web site.
Hounded for years by the press, Maradona even fired a compressed-air rifle against reporters who, so he claimed, invaded his privacy. This quote from former teammate Jorge Valdano summarizes the feelings of many:
“
He is someone many people want to emulate, a controversial figure, loved, hated, who stirs great upheaval, especially in Argentina... Stressing his personal life is a mistake. Maradona has no peers inside the pitch, but he has turned his life into a show, and is now living a personal ordeal that should not be imitated. [32]
”
A television commercial for Brazilian soft drink Guaraná Antarctica portrayed Maradona as a member of the Brazilian national football team, including wearing the yellow jersey and singing the Brazilian national anthem with Brazilian caps Kaká and Ronaldo. Later on in the commercial he wakes up realizing it was nightmare after having drank too much of the soft drink. This generated some controversy in the Argentine media after its release (although the commercial was not supposed to air on the Argentine market, fans could see it via internet. Maradona replied that he has no problem in wearing the Brazilian national squad jersey, instead, only in wearing River Plate's jersey.
In May 2006, Maradona agreed to take part in UK's Soccer Aid (a program to raise money for Unicef). Maradona scored a penalty but it was too late to save the match which England won 2-1.
Career statistics
Club
His overall average of goals scored per match in domestic club competitions is 0.53.
International
Started in 21 consecutive matches for Argentina in four World Cups (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994)
Appeared a World Cup-record 16 times as captain of the national team.
Scored 8 goals and made 8 assists in 21 World Cup appearances, including 5 goals and 5 assists in 1986
Tied for second-highest goal-scorer from Argentina in World Cup finals (equaled Guillermo Stabile's mark in 1994; surpassed by Gabriel Batistuta in 1998)
Statistics
Club Performance
League
Cup
League Cup
Total
Season
Club
League
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Argentina
League
Cup
League Cup
Total
1976
Argentinos Juniors
Primera División
11
2
-
-
11
2
1977
49
19
-
-
49
19
1978
35
25
-
-
35
25
1979
27
26
-
-
27
26
1980
45
43
-
-
45
43
1981
Boca Juniors
Primera División
40
28
-
-
40
28
Spain
League
Copa del Rey
Copa de la Liga
Total
1982-83
Barcelona
La Liga
20
11
5
3
4
5
29
19
1983-84
16
11
4
1
3
3
23
15
Italy
League
Coppa Italia
League Cup
Total
1984-85
Napoli
Serie A
30
14
6
3
-
36
17
1985-86
29
11
2
2
-
31
13
1986-87
29
10
10
7
2
0
41
17
1987-88
28
15
9
6
2
0
39
21
1988-89
26
9
21
7
12
3
50
19
1989-90
28
16
3
2
5
0
36
18
1990-91
18
6
3
2
4
2
25
10
Spain
League
Copa del Rey
Copa de la Liga
Total
1992-93
Sevilla
La Liga
26
5
3
3
-
29
7
Argentina
League
Cup
League Cup
Total
1993-94
Newell's Old Boys
Primera División
7
0
-
-
7
0
1995-96
Boca Juniors
Primera División
11
3
-
-
11
3
1996-97
13
2
-
-
13
2
1997-98
6
2
-
-
6
2
Total
Argentina
240
150
-
-
240
150
Spain
62
27
12
7
7
8
81
42
Italy
188
81
54
29
25
5
267
115
Career Total
490
258
66
36
32
13
588
307
Honours
Club
Boca Juniors
Primera División: 1981
FC Barcelona
Copa del Rey: 1983
Copa de la Liga: 1982
Spanish Super Cup: 1983
SSC Napoli
Serie A: 1987
Coppa Italia: 1987
Capocannoniere: 1988
UEFA Cup: 1989
Serie A: 1990
Italian Super Cup: 1991
Country
Argentina
FIFA World Youth Championship: 1979
FIFA World Cup: 1986
1990 FIFA World Cup: Runner-up
Artemio Franchi Trophy: 1993
75th anniversary FIFA Cup: 1979
Individual
Golden Ball for Best Player of the FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1979
Argentine league Top Scorer: 1979, 1980, 1981
Argentine Football Writers' Footballer of the Year: 1979–1981, 1986
South American Footballer of the Year (El Mundo, Caracas):1979, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992
Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Year: 1986
Golden Ball for Best Player of the FIFA World Cup: 1986
Best Footballer in the World (Once): 1986–1987
World Player of the Year (World Soccer Magazine): 1986
Golden Ball for services to football (France Football): 1996
Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Century: 1999
"FIFA best football player of the century", people's choice: 2000
"FIFA Goal of the Century" (1986 (2–1) v. England; second goal): 2002
Argentine Senate "Domingo Faustino Sarmiento" recognition for lifetime achievement: 2005
Coaching career
1994 Mandiyú de Corrientes
1995 Racing Club de Avellaneda
He also won a cup with Racing Club de Avellaneda
Trivia
The song Aj aj kylarspray ("Ouch Ouch Cooling Spray") by the Swedish band Joddla Med Siv deals with Maradona's childhood, his time at Napoli and the 1990 world cup final between Argentina and West Germany.
Mano Negra's final album, Casa Babylon contains the song Santa Maradona, which became one of the band's greatest hits.
Los Piojos released two songs dedicated to Maradona in their 1996 album Tercer Arco, Intro Maradó and Maradó, and have played them live in almost every show since. A live version featuring Maradona himself was released in their 1999 live album, Ritual.
Argentine singer Rodrigo Bueno wrote La Mano de Dios ("The Hand of God"), dedicated to Diego Maradona. Maradona mentioned Rodrigo in his autobiography, and covered the song himself in his 2005 TV show (changing the lyrics from third person to first).
Long Island alternative band Brand New recorded a song called "Me Vs. Maradona Vs. Elvis" on their 2003 CD Deja Entendu.
Manu Chao dedicates a song (La Vida Tómbola) in the album La Radiolina to Maradona.
Los Cafres one of the most important reggae band in Argentina, dedicate to Maradona the song "Capitan Pelusa" ("Captain Fuzz"). "Pelusa" ("Fuzz") is one of the nicknames of Diego Maradona because his tiny height.
Awards
Preceded byMario Kempes
South American Footballer of the Year1979, 1980
Succeeded byZico
Preceded byDaniel Martinazzo
Olimpia de Oro1979
Succeeded bySergio Víctor Palma
Preceded byMichel Platini
World Soccer Player of the Year1986
Succeeded byRuud Gullit
Preceded byPaolo Rossi
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball1986
Succeeded byLothar Matthäus
Preceded byKarl-Heinz Rummenigge
FIFA World Cup Silver Boot1986
Succeeded byTomáš Skuhravý
Preceded bySteve Cram
United Press InternationalAthlete of the Year1986
Succeeded byBen Johnson
Preceded byHugo Porta
Olimpia de Oro1986
Succeeded byGabriela Sabatini
Sporting positions
Preceded byDino Zoff(Italy)
FIFA World Cupwinning captain1986
Succeeded byLothar Matthäus(West Germany)
Source : www.en.wikipedia.org
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