Diego Maradona

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Diego Maradona

Personal information
Full name Diego Armando Maradona Franco
Date of birth 30 October 1960 (age 48)
Place of birth Lanús, Argentina
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Playing position Attacking Midfielder/Second Striker
Youth career
1969–1976 Argentinos Juniors
Senior career*
Years Club Apps† (Gls)†
1976–1981 Argentinos Juniors 166 (116)
1981–1982 Boca Juniors 40 (28)
1982–1984 FC Barcelona 36 (22)
1984–1991 Napoli 188 (115)
1992–1993 Sevilla 26 (5)
1993 Newell's Old Boys 7 (0)
1995–1997 Boca Juniors 30 (7)
Total 490 (258)
National team
1977–1994 Argentina 91 (34)
Teams managed
1994 Mandiyú de Corrientes
1995 Racing Club
2008– Argentina
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).
Diego Armando Maradona (born 30 October 1960 in Lanús, Buenos Aires) is a
former Argentine football player, and current coach of the Argentine national side. He
is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time; he finished first in an
internet vote for the FIFA Player of the Century award, and he shared the award with
Pelé.[1][2][3]

Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos
Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, and, most distinguishedly, Napoli. In his
international career, playing for Argentina, he earned 91 caps and scored 34 goals. He
played in four FIFA World Cup tournaments, including the 1986 World Cup where he
captained Argentina and led them to their victory over West Germany in the final,
winning the Golden Ball award as the tournament's best player. In that same
tournament's quarter-final round he scored two remarkable goals in a 2-1 victory over
England which instantly cemented his fame. 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".

For various reasons, Maradona is considered one of the sport's most controversial and
newsworthy figures. He was suspended from football for 15 months in 1991 after
failing a doping test for cocaine in Italy, and he was sent home from the 1994 World
Cup in the USA for using ephedrine.

After retiring from playing on his 37th birthday in 1997,[4] he increasingly suffered ill
health and weight gain, hardly helped by ongoing cocaine abuse. In 2005 a stomach
stapling operation helped control his weight gain. After overcoming his cocaine
addiction, he became a popular TV host in Argentina.[5]

Although he had little previous managerial experience, he became head coach of the
Argentina national football team in November 2008.

Contents
• 1 Early years
• 2 Club career
• 3 International career
o 3.1 1982 World Cup
o 3.2 1986 World Cup
o 3.3 1990 World Cup
o 3.4 1994 World Cup
• 4 Playing style
• 5 Retirement and honours
• 6 Managerial career
o 6.1 Club management
o 6.2 International
management
• 7 Personal life
o 7.1 Family
o 7.2 Drug abuse and
 health issues
o 7.3 Political views
o 7.4 Financial problems
• 8 In popular culture
• 9 Career statistics
o 9.1 Club
o 9.2 International
• 10 Statistics
o 10.1 Player
o 10.2 Manager
• 11 Honours
o 11.1 Club
o 11.2 Country
o 11.3 Individual
• 12 References

• 13 External links

[edit] Early years

Diego Armando Maradona was born in Lanús, but raised in Villa Fiorito, a
shantytown on the southern outskirts of Buenos Aires,[6] 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 10, 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.[7]

Maradona playing for Boca Juniors during 1981

On 20 October 1976, Maradona made his professional debut with Argentinos Juniors,
ten days before his sixteenth birthday.[4] He played there between 1976 and 1981,
before his £1m transfer to Boca Juniors. Joining the squad midway through the 1981
season, Maradona played through 1982, and secured his first league winners' medal.
Whilst playing for Argentinos Juniors, English club Sheffield United put in a bid of
£180,000 for his services but the bid was rejected.

After the 1982 World Cup, in June, Maradona was transferred to Barcelona in Spain
for a then world record £5m.[4] In 1983, under coach César Luis Menotti, Barcelona
and Maradona won the Copa del Rey (Spain's annual national cup competition),
beating Real Madrid, and the Spanish Super Cup, beating Athletic de Bilbao.
However, Maradona had a difficult tenure in Barcelona.[8] First a bout with hepatitis,
then a broken leg caused by an ill-timed tackle by Athletic Bilbao's Andoni
Goikoetxea jeopardized his career,[4] but Maradona's physical strength and willpower
made it possible for him to soon be back on the pitch. At Barcelona, Maradona got
into frequent disputes with the team's directors, especially club president Josep Lluís
Núñez, culminating with a demand to be transferred out of Camp Nou in 1984. He
was transferred to Napoli in Italy's Serie A for another record fee, £6.9m.

At Napoli, Maradona reached the peak of his professional career. He quickly became
an adored star among the club's fans, and in his time there he elevated the team to the
most successful era in its history. Led by Maradona, Napoli won their only Serie A
Italian Championships in 1986/87 and 1989/1990, placing second in the league twice,
in 1987/88 and 1988/89. Other honors during the Maradona era at Napoli included the
Coppa Italia in 1987, (second place in the Coppa Italia in 1989), the UEFA Cup in
1989 and the Italian Supercup in 1990. Maradona was the top scorer in Serie A in
1987/88.

However, during his time in Italy, Maradona's personal problems increased. His
cocaine use continued, and he received US $70,000 in fines from his club for missing
games and practices, ostensibly because of 'stress'.[9] He faced a scandal there
regarding an illegitimate son; and he was also the object of some suspicion over an
alleged friendship with the Camorra.[10][11][12][13][14]

After serving a 15-month ban for failing a drug test for cocaine, Maradona left Napoli
in disgrace in 1992. By the time he joined his next team, Sevilla (1992-93), he had not
played professional football for two years, and he would never again reach his
previous heights. In 1993 he played for Newell's Old Boys and in 1995 he returned to
Boca Juniors for 2 years.[4]

Maradona also appeared for Tottenham Hotspurs in a friendly match against Inter
Milan, shortly before the 1986 world cup. The match was Ossie Ardiles' testimonial,
who insisted his friend Maradona played, which Tottenham won 2-1. He played
alongside Glenn Hoddle, who gave up his number ten shirt for the Argentine.
Maradona would go on to dribble past Hoddle during his "goal of the century" against
England in the world cup that year.

[edit] International career

Maradona made his full international debut for Argentina aged 16 in a game against
Hungary on 27 February 1977

Along with his time at Napoli, international football is where Maradona found his
fame. Playing for the Albicelestes of the Argentina national football team, he
participated in four consecutive FIFA World Cup tournaments, leading Argentina to
victory in 1986 and to second place in 1990.

He made his full international debut at age 16, against Hungary on 27 February 1977.
At age 18, he played the World Youth Championship for Argentina, and was the star
of the tournament, shining in their 3–1 final win over the Soviet Union. On 2 June
1979, Maradona scored his first senior international goal in a 3–1 win against
Scotland at Hampden Park.[15]

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

This particular match was played in the background of the Falklands War between
Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (of which
England forms part) and emotions still were lingering in the air throughout the entire
match. 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." It became known as the "Hand of God,"
or "la mano de Dios." Ultimately, on 22 August 2005 Maradona later acknowledged
on his television show that he had hit the ball with his hand purposely, and that he
immediately knew the goal was illegitimate. However, the goal stood, much to the
wrath of the England players.

Maradona's second goal was to be later voted by FIFA as the greatest goal in the
history of the World Cup. He received the ball in his own half, swivelled around, and
with 11 touches 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.

Maradona followed this with two more goals in the semi-final against Belgium,
including another virtuoso dribbling display for the second goal. 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 pass to Jorge Burruchaga for the
winning goal. Argentina beat West Germany 3–2 in front of 115,000 spectators at the
Azteca Stadium and Maradona lifted the World Cup trophy, ensurin

g that he would be remembered as one of the greatest names in football history. In a

tribute to him, the Azteca Stadium authorities built a statue of him scoring the "goal
of the century" and placed it at the entrance of the stadium.

[edit] 1990 World Cup

Maradona and the Youth World Cup trophy in 1979

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, Claudio Caniggia
scored the only goal after being set up by Maradona.

In the quarter final, 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 with a weak shot at the centre of the goal. 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, daringly placing the ball at the exact same
spot as his missed penalty in the previous round. 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 Völler.

[edit] 1994 World Cup

At the 1994 FIFA World Cup Maradona played in only 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.[16] According to
Maradona, this was so that the World Cup would not lose prestige because of his
absence. This allegation has never been proven.

[edit] Playing style

Maradona playing for Argentinos Juniors in 1980

See also: Argentine Football Creole 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),[17] 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 on the 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.
[edit] Retirement and honours
Hounded for years by the press, Maradona once fired a compressed-air rifle at
reporters who he claimed were invading 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. [18] ”
In 2000, Maradona published his autobiography Yo Soy El Diego ("I am The Diego"),
which became an instant bestseller[19] in his home country. Two years later, Maradona
donated the Cuban royalties of his book to "the Cuban people and Fidel."[20]

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.[2]

Maradona at the Soccer Aid friendly match in 2006, after losing weight

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.[21]

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 26 December 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).[22] 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 26 August 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.[23]

The award-winning Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica made a documentary about

Maradona's life, entitled Maradona.

In May 2006, Maradona agreed to take part in UK's Soccer Aid (a program to raise
money for Unicef).[24] 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.

Also in 2006, Diego Maradona was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador of the

Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina Against
Malnutrition, IIMSAM.[25]

[edit] Managerial career

[edit] Club management

He attempted to work as a coach on two short stints, leading Mandiyú of Corrientes

(1994) and Racing Club (1995), but without much success.

[edit] International management

After the resignation of Argentina national football team coach Alfio Basile in 2008,
Diego Maradona immediately proposed his candidacy for the vacant role. According
to several press sources, his major challengers included Diego Simeone, Carlos
Bianchi, Miguel Ángel Russo and Sergio Batista. On October 29, 2008, AFA
chairman Julio Grondona confirmed that Maradona would be the head coach of the
national side from December 2008. On 19 November, 2008, Diego Maradona
managed Argentina for the first time when Argentina played against Scotland at
Hampden Park in Glasgow which Argentina won 1-0. The city of Glasgow plays a
significant part in Maradona's history as it was at Hampden Park in Glasgow that
Maradona scored his first goal for Argentina in 1979.[26] After winning his first three
matches in charge of the national team, he oversaw a 6-1 defeat to Bolivia, equalling
the team's worst ever margin of defeat, and three other defeats in the qualification
tournament for the World Cup which have left his side in fifth place, outside the
automatic qualification places for the tournament.

[edit] Personal life

[edit] Family

His parents are Diego Maradona Snr and Dalma Salvadore Franco.

Maradona in 1981

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), by whom he became a grandfather in 2009.[27] 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[28] 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). The Italian courts had already 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.[29]
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.[30][31]

His younger daughter, Giannina, is now married to Atletico Madrid striker Sergio
Agüero.

[edit] Drug abuse and health issues

See also: List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences

From the mid-1980s until 2004 Diego Maradona was addicted to cocaine. He
allegedly began using the drug in Barcelona in 1983.[32] By the time he was playing
for Napoli he had a regular addiction, which began to interfere with his ability to play
football.[33]

Over the years following his retirement his health seriously deteriorated. Maradona
had a tendency to put on weight, and suffered increasingly from obesity from the end
of his playing career until undergoing gastric bypass surgery in a clinic in Cartagena
de Indias, Colombia on 6 March 2005. When Maradona resumed public appearances
shortly thereafter, he displayed a notably thinner figure.

On 18 April 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.[citation needed] He was taken off the respirator on 23 April and
remained in intensive care for several days before being discharged on 29 April. He
returned to Cuba, where he had spent most of his time in the years leading up to the
heart attack, in May.

On 29 March 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.[34] In the following days there were constant rumors about his
health, including three false claims of his death within a month.[35] After transfer to a
psychiatric clinic specialising in alcohol-related problems, he was discharged on May
7.[36]

On 8 May 2007, Maradona appeared on Argentine television and stated that he had
quit drinking and had not used drugs in two and a half years.[37]

[edit] Political views

During the nineties, Diego Maradona supported the right wing and neoliberal
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.[38]
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 Chavista. Everything Fidel does, everything Chávez does,
for me is the best."[39]

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 BUSH" and referring to Bush as "human
garbage".[40][41]

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." [42]

In December 2007, Maradona presented a signed shirt with a message of support to

the people of Iran: it is to be displayed in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs'
museum.[43]

Maradona is also friendly with the socialist President of Bolivia, Evo Morales[citation
needed]
. Maradona attended a game at high-altitude La Paz to show that anyone,
including a man in his late 40s with a history of drug use and obesity, can play
football at altitude.

[edit] Financial problems

In March 2009 Italian officials announced that Maradona still owed the Italian
government 37 million euros in taxes; 23.5 million euros of which was accrued
interest on his original debt. They reported that thus far, Maradona has paid only
42,000 euros, two luxury watches and a set of earrings.[44][45]

[edit] In popular culture

Religious display of Maradona in Naples

Ever since 1986, it is common for Argentines abroad to hear Maradona's name as a
token of recognition, even in remote places.[8] The Tartan Army sing a version of the
Hokey Cokey in honour of the Hand of God goal against England.[46] In Argentina,
Maradona is often talked about in terms reserved for legends. In the Argentine film El
Hijo de la Novia ("Son of the Bride"), somebody who impersonates a Catholic priest
says to a bar patron: "they idolized him and then crucified him". When a friend scolds
him for taking the prank too far, the fake priest retorts: "But I was talking about
Maradona".

In Rosario, 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[47] have become
members via the church's official web site.

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, he'd only refuse to
wear River Plate's jersey.[48]

[edit] Career statistics

[edit] Club

• His overall average of goals scored per match in domestic club

competitions is 0.526.
[edit] 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)

[edit] Statistics
[edit] Player

Club performance League Cup Continental Total

Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals

South
Argentina League Cup Total
America

1976 11 2 - - 11 2

1977 49 19 - - 49 19

Argentinos Primera
1978 35 25 - - 35 25
Juniors División

1979 27 26 - - 27 26

1980 45 43 - - 45 43

Boca Primera
1981 40 28 - - 40 28
Juniors División

Copa del
Spain League Europe Total
Rey
1982–
20 11 5 3 4 5 29 19
83
Barcelona La Liga
1983–
16 11 4 1 3 3 23 15
84

Italy League Coppa Italia Europe Total

1984–
30 14 6 3 - 36 17
85

1985–
29 11 2 2 - 31 13
86

1986–
29 10 10 7 2 0 41 17
87

1987–
Napoli Serie A 28 15 9 6 2 0 39 21
88

1988–
26 9 12 7 12 3 50 19
89

1989–
28 16 3 2 5 0 36 18
90

1990–
18 6 3 2 4 2 25 10
91

Copa del
Spain League Europe Total
Rey

1992–
Sevilla La Liga 26 5 3 3 - 29 8
93
 South
Argentina League Cup Total
America

1993– Newell's Primera

7 0 - - 7 0
94 Old Boys División

1995–
11 3 - - 11 3
96

1996– Boca Primera

13 2 - - 13 2
97 Juniors División

1997–
6 2 - - 6 2
98

Argentina 244 150 - - 244 150

Total Spain 62 27 12 7 7 8 81 42

Italy 188 81 45 29 25 5 258 115

Career Total 494 258 57 36 32 13 583 307

[edit] Manager

Record
Team Nat From To
G W L D Win %

Mandiyú de Corrientes 1994 12 1 6 5 8.33

Racing Club de Avellaneda 1995 11 2 6 3 18.18

Argentina November 2008 Present 11 7 4 0 63.64

As of 10 September 2009.

[edit] Honours
[edit] Club

• Boca Juniors
o Primera División: 1981

• Barcelona
o Copa del Rey: 1983
o Copa de la Liga: 1983
o Spanish Super Cup: 1983

• Napoli
o Serie A: 1987, 1990
o Coppa Italia: 1987
o UEFA Cup: 1989
o Italian Super Cup: 1990

[edit] Country

• Argentina
o FIFA World Youth Championship: 1979
o FIFA World Cup:
 Winner: 1986
 Runner-up: 1990
o Artemio Franchi Trophy: 1993
o 75th anniversary FIFA Cup: 1979

[edit] 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, 1980, 1981,
1986
• South American Footballer of the Year (El Mundo, Caracas):1979,
1986, 1989, 1990, 1992
• Italian Guerin d'Oro: 1985
• Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Year: 1986
• Golden Ball for Best Player of the FIFA World Cup: 1986
• Best Footballer in the World Onze d'Or: 1986, 1987
• World Player of the Year (World Soccer Magazine): 1986
• Capocannoniere (Serie A top scorer): 1987-88
• 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

[edit] References
1. ^ BBC - "cyber-blitz by Maradona fans in Internet Poll"
2. ^ a b CNNSI - "Split decision: Pelé, Maradona each win FIFA century
awards after feud" Last retrieved May 30, 2006
3. ^ However, it should be mentioned that Pelé and numerous FIFA
officials criticised the poll for a number of methodological shortcomings, most
notably, for the 'recency effect'. In a separate survey conducted by the IFFHS,
Maradona placed 5th best player of the century, behind fellow countryman
Alfredo Di Stefano.
4. ^ a b c d e A SUMMARY OF MARADONA's LIFE
www.vivadiego.com. Retrieved 18 August 2006.
5. ^ Five days with Diego Jason Bernard, news.bbc.co.uk, 30 April 2006.
Retrieved 6 August 2006.
6. ^ The greatest rags-to-riches stories everJames Dart, Paul Doyle and
Jon Hill, 12 April 2006. Retrieved 18 August 2006.
7. ^ The Hand of God Retrieved 18 August 2006.
8. ^ a b That's one hell of a diet, Diego8 January 2006. Guardian
Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 13 August 2006.
9. ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?
res=9D0CE3D6153EF930A25752C0A967958260
10. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3639425.stm
11. ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/after-the-fall-the-world-cup-
dream-is-over-for-diego-maradona-but-there-may-be-worse-to-come--a-little-
matter-of-pounds-500000worth-of-smuggled-cocaine-and-the-naples-mafia-
paul-greengrass-and-toby-follett-report-1411755.html
12. ^ http://biography.jrank.org/pages/3138/Maradona-Diego-1961-
Athlete-Infamous-Hand-God-Goal.html
13. ^
http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1999/gennaio/02/Camorra_arrestato_boss_ami
co_Maradona_co_0_9901021353.shtml
14. ^
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/news/2002/01/14/prima_dona/
15. ^ MacPherson, Graeme. Maradona to receive Hampden welcome, The
Herald, 30 October 2008.
16. ^ Diego Maradona - Career History and Profle Alan Hylands,
about.com. Retrieved 16 October 2007.
17. ^ Maradona's World Cup magic BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 August
2006.
18. ^ Interview with Jorge Valdano Last retrieved May 19, 2006
19. ^ Maradona 'tells all' in autobiography Associated Press. Posted: 20
December 2000. Retrieved 18 August 2006.
20. ^ Maradona donates royalties from Cuban edition of his book Anne-
Marie Garcia, 21 February 2002. Retrieved 18 August 2006.
21. ^ Argentina can't retire Maradona's shirt ESPNsoccernet.com, 26 May
2002. Retrieved 18 August 2006
22. ^ 'El Diez emprende dos nuevos desafíos', ESPN Deportes (July 28,
2005). Retrieved August 17, 2005
23. ^ 'El Diego quits his beloved Boca', FIFA News (August 26, 2006).
Retrieved August 26, 2006
24. ^ "Maradona scores but England win UNICEF match", Yahoo-FIFA
25. ^ IIMSAM, Permanent Intergovernmental Observer to the United
Nations ECOSOC
26. ^ "Maradona 'set to coach Argentina'". BBC Sport. 2008-10-28.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7696408.stm. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
27. ^ http://www.goal.com/en/news/722/la-
liga/2009/02/19/1117562/diego-maradona-becomes-a-grandfather-as-sergio-
aguero-junior-is-b
28. ^ ESPN Deportes - "Llega en son de paz" Last retrieved 19 May 2006
29. ^ ESPN Deportes - "El amor al ídolo" Last retrieved May 19, 2006
30. ^ Clarin.com - "Había una vez... un elenco para la selección" Last
retrieved 19 May 2006
31. ^ Clarin.com - "Dalma Maradona: diario de una princesa" Last
retrieved 19 May 2006
32. ^ Maradona's fall from grace John May, 19 April, 2004, BBC Sport.
Retrieved 18 August 2006.
33. ^ "The New York Times: SOCCER; Maradona Sentenced". 1991-19-
09. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?
res=9D0CE5DE1F30F93AA2575AC0A967958260.
34. ^ "Maradona back in hospital" - Sky Sports
35. ^ "Malas lenguas" - Diario Olé (Spanish)
36. ^ BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Maradona leaves alcoholism clinic
37. ^ "Maradona says he no longer drinks" - ESPNsoccernet
38. ^ "A big hand". The Observer. 2005-11-06.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/argentina/story/0,,1635417,00.html. Retrieved
2006-06-19.
39. ^ "Maradona and Chávez laugh over 'hand of god' goal on chat show".
The Guardian.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/venezuela/story/0,,2152474,00.html. Retrieved
2007-08-20.
40. ^ "Chávez and Maradona Lead Massive Rebuke of Bush". The Nation.
2005-11-05. http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051121/timerman. Retrieved
2006-06-20.
41. ^ Image of Maradona wearing the STOP BU 卐 H shirt
42. ^ "Ex-soccer star Maradona tells Chavez he hates U.S.". Reuters.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldFootballNews/idUKN1925170620070819.
Retrieved 2007-08-20.
43. ^ "Maradona Loves Iran". Critical Montages. 2007-12-24.
http://montages.blogspot.com/2007/12/maradona-loves-iran.html. Retrieved
2007-12-25.
44. ^ Police seize Maradona's earrings BBC News, September 19, 2009
45. ^ Maradona Still Owes 37 million Euros Yahoo News, March 28,
2009
 46. ^ Shields, Tom. LET'S RAISE A GLASS TO MARADONA TOM
SHIELDS SPORT DIARY, Sunday Herald, April 9, 2006.
47. ^ Maradona in intensive care 28 April, 2004. BBC Sport. Retrieved 18
August 2006.
48. ^ "Maradona diz não se arrepender de usar camisa do Brasil na TV".
AdNews. http://www.adnews.com.br/publicidade.php?id=28306. Retrieved
2008-08-14.

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Diego Maradona

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Diego Maradona

• Diego Maradona's home page

• Viva Diego 10
• Gary Lineker interviews Diego - BBC News 30 April 2006
• Diego admires Del Piero and Lavezzi
• Maradona Wants a Soccer Project to Return to Calcutta by Sirshendu
Panth, December 10 2008

Diego Maradona - Awards and achievements

v•d•e

FIFA 100

Baggio · Ballack · Banks · Baresi · Beckenbauer · Beckham · Bergkamp ·

Bergomi · Best · Boniek · Boniperti · Breitner · Buffon · Butragueño ·
Cantona · Ceulemans · Charlton · Cruijff · Dalglish · Dasayev · Davids · Del
Piero · Desailly · Deschamps · Emre · Eusébio · Facchetti · Figo · Fontaine ·
Gullit · Hagi · Henry · Kahn · Keane · Keegan · Klinsmann · Kluivert ·
Kopa · B. Laudrup · M. Laudrup · Lineker · Luis Enrique · Maier · Maldini ·
UEFA
Masopust · Matthäus · Müller · Nedvěd · Neeskens · Nesta · Owen · Papin ·
Pfaff · Pirès · Platini · Puskás · Raúl · Rensenbrink · Rijkaard · Rivera ·
Rossi · Rui Costa · Rummenigge · Rüştü · Schmeichel · Seedorf · Seeler ·
Shearer · Shevchenko · Stoichkov · Šuker · Thuram · Totti · Trésor ·
Trezeguet · van Basten · R. van de Kerkhof · W. van de Kerkhof · Van der
Elst · van Nistelrooy · Vieira · Vieri · Zidane · Zoff
 Carlos Alberto · Batistuta · Cafu · Crespo · Cubillas · di Stéfano · Falcão ·
Figueroa · Francescoli · Júnior · Kempes · Maradona · Passarella · Pelé ·
CONMEBOL Rivaldo · Rivelino · Roberto Carlos · Romário · Romerito · Ronaldinho ·
Ronaldo · Djalma Santos · Nílton Santos · Saviola · Sívori · Sócrates ·
Valderrama · Verón · Zamorano · Zanetti · Zico

CAF Diouf · Milla · Okocha · Abédi Pelé · Weah

CONCACAF Akers · Hamm · Sánchez

AFC Hong · Nakata

v•d•e

Serie A top scorers

1924: Schönfeld | 1925: Magnozzi | 1926: Hirzer | 1927: Powolny | 1928: Libonatti |
1929: Rossetti | 1930: Meazza | 1931: Volk | 1932: Petrone / Schiavio | 1933: Borel | 1934: Borel
| 1935: Guaita | 1936 Meazza | 1937: Piola | 1938: Meazza | 1939: Boffi / Puricelli | 1940: Boffi |
1941: Puricelli | 1942: Boffi | 1943: Piola | 1946: Castigliano | 1947: V. Mazzola |
1948: Boniperti | 1949: Nyers | 1950: Nordahl | 1951: Nordahl | 1952: Hansen | 1953: Nordahl |
1954: Nordahl | 1955: Nordahl | 1956: Pivatelli | 1957: Da Costa | 1958: Charles |
1959: Angelillo | 1960: Sívori | 1961: Brighenti | 1962: Altafini / Milani | 1963: Nielsen /
Manfredini | 1964: Nielsen | 1965: Orlando / S. Mazzola | 1966: Vinício | 1967: Riva |
1968: Prati | 1969: Riva | 1970: Riva | 1971: Boninsegna | 1972: Boninsegna | 1973: Pulici /
Rivera / Savoldi | 1974: Chinaglia | 1975: Pulici | 1976: Pulici | 1977: Graziani | 1978: Rossi |
1979: Giordano | 1980: Bettega | 1981: Pruzzo | 1982: Pruzzo | 1983: Platini | 1984: Platini |
1985: Platini | 1986: Pruzzo | 1987: Virdis | 1988: Maradona | 1989: Serena | 1990: van Basten |
1991: Vialli | 1992: van Basten | 1993: Signori | 1994: Signori | 1995: Batistuta | 1996: Signori /
Protti | 1997: Inzaghi | 1998: Bierhoff | 1999: Amoroso | 2000: Shevchenko | 2001: Crespo |
2002: Trezeguet / Hübner | 2003: Vieri | 2004: Shevchenko | 2005: Lucarelli | 2006: Toni |
2007: Totti | 2008: Del Piero | 2009: Ibrahimović
v•d•e

South American Footballer of the Year

1971: Tostão | 1972: Cubillas | 1973: Pelé | 1974: Figueroa | 1975: Figueroa | 1976: Figueroa |
1977: Zico | 1978: Kempes | 1979: Maradona | 1980: Maradona | 1981: Zico | 1982: Zico |
1983: Sócrates | 1984: Francescoli | 1985: Romerito | 1986: Alzamendi | 1987: Valderrama |
1988: Paz | 1989: Bebeto | 1990: Amarilla | 1991: Ruggeri | 1992: Raí | 1993: Valderrama | 1994:
Cafu | 1995: Francescoli | 1996: Chilavert | 1997: Salas | 1998: Palermo | 1999: Saviola | 2000:
Romário | 2001: Riquelme | 2002: Cardozo | 2003: Tévez | 2004: Tévez | 2005: Tévez | 2006:
Fernández | 2007: Cabañas | 2008: Verón
v•d•e

Olimpia de Plata

1970: Yazalde | 1971: Pastoriza | 1972: Bargas | 1973: Brindisi | 1974: Raimondo | 1975: Scotta |
1976: Passarella | 1977: Fillol | 1978: Kempes | 1979: Maradona | 1980: Maradona |
1981: Maradona | 1982: Gatti | 1983: Bochini | 1984: Márcico | 1985: Francescoli |
1986: Maradona | 1987: Fabbri | 1988: Paz | 1989: Moreno | 1990: Goycochea | 1991: Ruggeri |
1992: Islas | 1993: Bello | 1994: Montoya | 1995: Francescoli | 1996: Chilavert | 1997: Salas |
1998: Batistuta | 1999: Saviola | 2000: Riquelme | 2001: Riquelme | 2002: Milito | 2003: Tévez |
2004: Tévez | 2005: Messi | 2006: Verón | 2007: Messi | 2008: Riquelme | 2009: Agüero
v•d•e

FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Ball

1977: Bessonov | 1979: Maradona | 1981: Gabor | 1983: Geovani | 1985: Silas |
1987: Prosinečki | 1989: Bismarck | 1991: Peixe | 1993: Adriano | 1995: Caio | 1997: Olivera |
1999: Keita | 2001: Saviola | 2003: Matar | 2005: Messi | 2007: Agüero
v•d•e

World Player of the Year (Soccer Magazine)

1982: Rossi | 1983: Zico | 1984: Platini | 1985: Platini | 1986: Maradona | 1987: Gullit |
1988: van Basten | 1989: Gullit | 1990: Matthäus | 1991: Papin | 1992: van Basten | 1993: Baggio
| 1994: Maldini | 1995: Vialli | 1996: Ronaldo | 1997: Ronaldo | 1998: Zidane | 1999: Rivaldo |
2000: Figo | 2001: Owen | 2002: Ronaldo | 2003: Nedvěd | 2004: Ronaldinho | 2005: Ronaldinho
| 2006: Cannavaro | 2007: Kaká | 2008: C. Ronaldo

Awards and achievements

Preceded by FIFA World Cup Golden Ball Succeeded by

Paolo Rossi 1986 Salvatore Schillaci

Preceded by
FIFA World Cup Silver Boot Succeeded by
Karl-Heinz
1986 Tomáš Skuhravý
Rummenigge

Preceded by FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball Succeeded by

Preben Elkjær 1990 Hristo Stoichkov

United Press International

Preceded by Succeeded by
Athlete of the Year
Steve Cram Ben Johnson
1986

Preceded by Olimpia de Oro Succeeded by

Hugo Porta 1986 Gabriela Sabatini

Sporting positions

Preceded by World football transfer record Succeeded by

Paolo Rossi 1982–1987 Ruud Gullit

Preceded by FIFA World Cup Succeeded by

Dino Zoff winning captain Lothar Matthäus
(Italy) 1986 (West Germany)
 Diego Maradona - International tournaments

v•d•e

Argentina squad – 1979 Copa América

1 Barbas • 2 Bochini • 3 Bordón • 4 Castro • 5 Coscia • 6 Díaz • 7 Fortunato • 8 Gaitán •

9 Gáspari • 10 Larraquy • 11 López • 12 Maradona • 13 Ocaño • 14 Passarella •
15 Saporiti • 16 Valencia • 17 Van Tuyne • 18 Vidallé • Coach: Menotti

v•d•e

Argentina squad – 1982 FIFA World Cup

1 Ardiles • 2 Baley • 3 Barbas • 4 Bertoni • 5 Calderón • 6 Díaz • 7 Fillol • 8 Galván •

9 Gallego • 10 Maradona • 11 Kempes • 12 Hernández • 13 Olarticoechea • 14 Olguín •
15 Passarella • 16 Pumpido • 17 Santamaría • 18 Tarantini • 19 Trossero • 20 Valdano •
21 Valencia • 22 Van Tuyne • Coach: Menotti

v•d•e

Argentina squad – 1986 FIFA World Cup Winners (2nd Title)

1Almirón • 2 Batista • 3 Bochini • 4 Borghi • 5 Brown • 6 Passarella • 7 Burruchaga •

8 Clausen • 9 Cuciuffo • 10 Maradona • 11 Valdano • 12 Enrique • 13 Garré • 14 Giusti •
15 Islas • 16 Olarticoechea • 17 Pasculli • 18 Pumpido • 19 Ruggeri • 20 Tapia •
21 Trobbiani • 22 Zelada • Coach: Bilardo

v•d•e

Argentina squad – 1987 Copa América

1 Alfaro • 2 Batista • 3 Caniggia • 4 Dertycia • 5 Brown • 6 Díaz • 7 Funes • 8 Acosta •

9 Cuciuffo • 10 Maradona • 11 Percudani • 12 Siviski • 13 Garré • 14 Giusti • 15 Islas •
16 Olarticoechea • 17 Pasculli • 18 Goycochea • 19 Ruggeri • 20 Tapia • 21 Theiler •
22 Bartero • Coach: Bilardo

v•d•e

Argentina squad – 1989 Copa América

1 Pumpido • 2 Batista • 3 Alfaro Moreno • 4 Balbo • 5 Brown • 6 Basualdo •

7 Burruchaga • 8 Caniggia • 9 Cuciuffo • 10 Maradona • 11 Calderón • 12 Clausen •
13 Díaz • 14 Enrique • 15 Giusti • 16 Monzón • 17 Ruggeri • 18 Islas • 19 Sensini •
20 Troglio • 21 Gorosito • 22 Falcioni • Coach: Bilardo

v•d•e

Argentina squad – 1990 FIFA World Cup Runners-Up

1 Pumpido (Comizzo) • 2 Batista • 3 Balbo • 4 Basualdo • 5 Bauza • 6 Calderón •

7 Burruchaga • 8 Caniggia • 9 Dezotti • 10 Maradona • 11 Fabbri • 12 Goycochea •
13 Lorenzo • 14 Giusti • 15 Monzón • 16 Olarticoechea • 17 Sensini • 18 Serrizuela •
19 Ruggeri • 20 Simón • 21 Troglio • 22 Cancelarich • Coach: Bilardo

v•d•e
 Argentina squad – 1994 FIFA World Cup

1 Goycochea • 2 Vázquez • 3 Chamot • 4 Sensini • 5 Redondo • 6 Ruggeri • 7 Caniggia •

8 Basualdo • 9 Batistuta • 10 Maradona • 11 Medina Bello • 12 Islas • 13 Cáceres •
14 Simeone • 15 Borelli • 16 Díaz • 17 Ortega • 18 Pérez • 19 Balbo • 20 Rodríguez •
21 Mancuso • 22 Scoponi • Coach: Basile