Description
Welcome to Quare, the educational podcast for young and old alike. Today, in the Sport category, this episode is dedicated to Diego Maradona.
Who is Diego Maradona?
Diego Maradona is one of the greatest footballers of all time. He was born on 30 October 1960 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, into a very poor family from the Villa Fiorito neighbourhood. He wore the number 10 on his shirt, and in the world of football, that number is synonymous with his name.
What kind of environment did he grow up in?
One of the most underprivileged slums in Buenos Aires. His family had very little, but Diego had an extraordinary gift. At 8, he was already juggling a ball in spectacular fashion. At 10, he was spotted by scouts from the football club Argentinos Juniors and joined the youth academy. Very quickly, everyone realised he had exceptional talent.
Did he start young?
Very young! At 15, in 1976, he made his professional debut with Argentinos Juniors. At 16, he was called up to the Argentine national team. But the manager at the time decided not to take him to the 1978 World Cup, held in Argentina, considering him still too young. That decision hurt Maradona deeply — he had dreamed of playing in his own country in front of his own people.
Which clubs did he play for?
He played for Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors in Argentina — one of the most popular clubs in the country. He was then transferred to Europe: first to FC Barcelona in Spain in 1982, and finally to Napoli in Italy in 1984. That is where he experienced his finest years.
Why Napoli?
Napoli is a city in southern Italy, poor and long looked down upon by the clubs of the north such as Juventus and Inter Milan, who hoarded all the trophies. Napoli had never won anything of significance. Maradona could have joined far more glamorous European clubs. He chose Napoli because he wanted to be the hero of ordinary people — the forgotten, the poor. The San Paolo stadium, holding 80,000 people, was packed to the rafters for every match. For the people of Naples, Maradona was not a football player. He was a god.
Did he manage to make Napoli win?
Yes, and that is the heart of one of his greatest legends. Under Maradona's leadership, Napoli won the Italian league title for the very first time in 1987. It was a monumental event for an entire city. Napoli then won the championship again in 1990, as well as the UEFA Cup in 1989. Maradona had transformed a second-tier club into the dominant team in Italy.
What about the national team? Did he play at the World Cup?
Yes, and that is where he reached the very top. The 1986 World Cup in Mexico remains the most iconic moment of his career. At 25, he almost single-handedly carried Argentina to the world title. Throughout the tournament he put in breathtaking performances, but it was in the quarter-final on 22 June 1986, against England, that he entered legend — for better and for worse.
What happened in the match against England?
In that match, Maradona scored two goals that became very famous. The first, in the 51st minute, was illegal: he struck the ball with his left hand, but the referee did not see it and allowed the goal. After the match, Maradona said with a broad smile that the goal had been scored "a little with the head of Maradona, and a little with the Hand of God." That phrase has gone down in football history.
www.quare.club
Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
