Coach, footballer, and especially sample, El Pibe de Oro (the golden boy) or better known as. Diego Armando Maradona Was one of the best soccer players in the world. D10 is considered an idol for Naples and Neapolitans, so much so that the bond with the city and the people is extremely deep. Retrace with us the most important stages in the biography of the king of the soccer.

Maradona's arrival at the San Paolo

Our tour begins with a very important place not only for Diego but also for Neapolitans: the Sao Paulo stadium.

Here, on July 5, 1984, amidst a cheering crowd of more than 80,000 thousand people, Maradona was first presented at the Naples, coming through the years to collect numerous victories. In fact, at the time, the Napoli team was not considered to be so excellent, and it was Maradona himself who brought it to brilliance, going so far as to become captain himself.

On the day of Maradona's arrival to the team, the whole city was in suspense. For a moment at his entrance it seemed as if everything had stopped, the Neapolitans' hopes for redemption had been pinned on the curly-haired and smiling footballer who, excited, entered the stadium that evening.

Maradona's Napoli career

Symbolic was Diego's 1986-1987 victory, a championship in which after a full 32 years Napoli managed to beat the Juventus and thus win the Scudetto. This success was followed by many others, such as winning the Italian Super Cup in the 1990-91 season and also obtaining the second Scudetto for Napoli in 1990.

Maradona and Naples: an unbreakable bond

Our path thus continues to San Gregorio Armeno, in the heart of the historic center of Naples and street famous for the many stores of cribs present. Between classic and modern shepherds, you may catch a glimpse of a jersey with a number 10 prominently displayed among the figurines: yes, indeed Diego Maradona. For Neapolitans, his figure is so important that he has even been depicted by those devoted to pastoral art.

How come Diego is so important to Neapolitans? Before his arrival to the team, Napoli had never accumulated so much success. He redeemed the South and the Neapolitans in particular, after teams had offended and denigrated them. It was thus a kind of revenge, although sportingly speaking. The people adopted Diego almost as if he were a son, going so far as to define him as a "Neapolitan born in Argentina." Above all, Diego became a symbol of the city, creating an unbreakable bond with Partenope and its inhabitants. On July 5, 2017, Diego also received the Honorary Citizenship of the city of Naples, and in his honor there are many Neapolitans who have named their children after the glorious footballer.

Diego Armando Maradona Stadium

Located at Fuorigrotta, this stadium was designed by architect Carlo Mocchia in the 1950s, and as its first name it was given Sunshine Stadium, only to be changed in 1963 to Sao Paulo stadium, in honor of Paul of Tarsus, that is, one of the apostles.

Only last year, that is, in December 2020 did its name change to Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, in honor of the king of soccer.

For years, the stadium has been home to millions of fans and soccer lovers, who followed their favorite team's games with joyful choruses.

To get to the stadium, considering Piazza Garibaldi as the starting point, you will have to take the metro line 2 towards Pozzuoli. After 5 stops, you will have to get off at Napoli Piazza Leopardi. You will then have to go towards Via Giulio Cesare and then turn left towards Via Attilio Regolo. After a few meters, turn left to Viale di Augusto and then right to Via Sebastiano Veniero. Continuing on Via Francesco Galeota, you will find yourself in Piazzale Vincenzo Tecchio, and there you will have reached your destination.

After his tragic death, both in Argentina but especially in Naples, El Pibe de Oro was commemorated, with vigils held until the night after his death, along with choruses with red smoke prepared by fans, who then marched to Plebiscite Square, and then arrive at the Sao Paulo stadium. The day after his death, Luigi de Magistris, mayor of the city of Naples, announced that the stadium would be renamed as the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

Tour of Maradona's murals in Naples

Maradona, the defender of the humble, the one who with such fortitude defended his beloved South, was honored and performed in numerous streets of Naples, once again offering his beloved people an opportunity to be able to commemorate his memory in front of beautiful murals. Street art has developed in the city especially in recent years, and many graffiti pieces have been dedicated to Pibe de Oro in particular, before and after his death.

Are you a Napoli fan? This is the tour for you then! Follow our directions for visiting the mural of Maradona!

I Spanish Neighborhoods are practically a separate realm dedicated to the Pibe de Oro. Now we explain how to get there.

Starting from Piazza Garibaldi, it will be enough to take the metro line 1, and get off at Toledo, which would be exactly 3 stops. From Toledo Street, after about 140m, turn right and take Portacarrese Street in Montecalvario. Continuing straight ahead, you will be able to reach Vico Lungo del Gelso, where there are as many as two murals dedicated to our king of soccer. Among these streets, in addition to the murals, there are also a variety of banners, flags and drawings in his honor.

Continuing towards Vico Figurella in Montecalvario, after 62 mt you will need to turn left and take Vico Due Porte in Toledo. After 120 mt, turn left again towards Vico 2° Montecalvario and after about 110 mt you will be on Via Emanuele de Deo.

At number 60 is a square with a huge mural dedicated to Maradona. In fact, here in 2016 the window that opened wide right into the face of the Pibe de Oro was closed and then restored. This small square became so famous for tourists and fans that the City Council decided to close it with stakes and name the widening Piazza Diego Armando Maradona.

Maradona is so important to the city of Naples that murals in tribute to him are now scattered all over the city, for example at the Sanità District, in San Giovanni a Teduccio, in Quarto, in Soccavo and again at the station. Phlegraean Fields Of the Cumana.

Diego's rise to success.

Maradona was born in Lanús, a city in Argentina, on Oct. 30, 1960, and from an early age, his distinct passion for the soccer led him to join Diego's father's team, Estrellas Rojas. At only 10 years old, he joined the youth team of Argentinos Juniors in Buenos Aires on December 5, 1970.

His professional career began 6 years later, still with the Argentinos Junior team and 10 days before his 16th birthday, making him the youngest footballer in history to make his debut in an Argentine division. In his country he had the opportunity to rise through the ranks, eventually becoming a starter, then top scorer, as well as winner of the South American Ballon d'Or, an award he won in both 1979 and 1980.

Later, he began to receive offers from other soccer teams as well: in fact, he transferred first to Boca Juniors, a team that Maradona's father supported, and after the World Cup of 1982, Diego had an offer from Barcelona, and stayed with this team for a full two years, having played 16 games and scored 11 goals.

He later began his career with Napoli, but unfortunately, after countless victories, Maradona's decline began, eventually testing positive for drugs on March 17, 1991.

The last years as a soccer player

Maradona returned to play for Sevilla in 1992, about a year and a half after his disqualification for doping. His presence in the team lasted for about a year, because in the 1993-1994 season he moved to the Argentine team Newell's Old Boys. He was then awarded the Golden Ball for Lifetime Achievement in 1995, and in this same year, he played again with the Boca Juniors jersey. He remained with this team for two years until 1997, although his official retirement from soccer took place on November 10, 2001.

Maradona's career after retirement

After retiring from soccer there were more successes for Maradona. In 2000 Yo soy el Diego (I am the Diego) his autobiography was published, which as one can imagine became an instant bestseller especially in Argentina.

In the same year, the Naples retired the number 10 jersey, deciding that no one should ever wear it again after Maradona.

A few years later in 2005, he was not only appointed sporting director of Boca Juniors, but also became the host of an Argentine television program called La Noche del 10, which also welcomed multiple guests of some renown.

It doesn't end there, Diego Maradona also became coach, first of Argentina in 2008, then of UAE in 2011 and finally of Dorados and Gimnasia la Plata in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

A few weeks after he turned 60, Maradona died in Tigre on November 25, 2020, after many years of a successful career.

What are you waiting for? Follow in the footsteps of Maradona and come and discover the Naples fan like you've never seen!