AD10S

Diego Armando Maradona passed away yesterday, 25 November, after suffering a heart attack. He recently turned 60... An undisputed icon of world football, considered by many as the greatest player of all time, Diego was known and loved by all.

Born on 30 October 1960 in Lanús, Argentina, he rapidly rose to fame in his home country and earned the nickname « El Pibe de Oro », the golden kid. This preternaturally gifted youngster soon became a media sensation,  after launching his career with Argentinos Juniors.  He went on to star for Boca Juniors, one of Argentina's biggest clubs, before making the move to Europe. His two seasons at Barcelona were a mixed bag, marred by a serious injury and containing moments of genius but also moments of madness.

Diego Armando Maradona encountered perhaps the greatest love of his life in Naples. He joined the club in 1984, with a memorable presentation ceremony at Stadio San Paolo. Naples was a city after his own heart, and the locals would soon come to venerate him - with good reason. When he arrived, SSC Napoli were fighting for their top-flight survival. With Diego, Gli Azzurri were suddenly title contenders. Napoli won the first Scudetto in the club's history in 1987, and would go on to win again in 1990. The club also won the Coppa d'Italia in 1987 and the UEFA Cup in 1989, knocking out the Girondins along the way (see under). Between 1984 and 1991, Diego Maradona was an icon of Neapolitan pride in the face of contempt and suspicion from their fellow countrymen. It would be wrong to suggest that Maradona was regarded as a god in Naples. He still is.

But it was with his national team that the kid from Lanus captured the world's attention. Despite earning his first cap in 1977, Diego Maradona was not selected for World Cup 1978, which Argentina won on home soil. He was injured that time round, but when World Cup 1986 rolled round in Mexico, he was raring to go. At the time, nobody believed Argentina could work their magic again. That team, a band of warriors led by a genius, would prove all of the doubters wrong. The unstoppable No.10 scored 5 goals and provided 5 assists in the tournament. And he made his most lasting mark on footballing history on 22 June 1986, against England. Just a few short years after defeat in the Falklands War, Diego landed a huge blow for Argentinean national pride in a match which summed up the two sides of his character: the infamous "Hand of God" goal, followed in short order by an absolutely incredible, slaloming run which left the Three Lions on their knees. He scored two more against Belgium in the semi-finals, then provided the assist for Burruchaga's goal in the final (3-2 against West Germany). Diego was champion of the world. King of the World.

Maradona twice graced the pitch at Bordeaux's Parc Lescure. The first was with FC Barcelona in August 1983, at a friendly tournament hosted by the Girondins. Bordeaux won that game (2-0) thanks to goals from Alain Giresse and Marius Trésor. The second visit came in 1988, by which time Diego was a global icon. Bordeaux hosted Napoli in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup. Napoli won the first leg in Bordeaux (0-1). The Girondins team that night featured Alain Roche, Jean Tigana, Enzo Scifo and Yannick Stopyra, to name but a few. Bordeaux were unable to make up the deficit in the return leg in Italy (0-0).

Diego Armando Maradona's story was also one of controversies, legal problems and misfiring comebacks. Nobody is denying this dark side. But today of all days we choose to focus on the light, and to remember him simply as the footballing genius that he was. Adieu, Légende. Ad10s, Diego.