Name : Diego Armando Maradona
Date of Birth: 30 October
1960
Birthplace: Villa Fiorito, Argentina
[AFP] |
An Albiceleste underdog who beat the world
Some things never lose currency in Argentina - beef, women and dulce de leche
(a caramel dessert) among them. Football is another source of comfort for the
masses, and one player in particular has provided more than his share of tender
loving care - Maradona. The former national team captain headed the queue when
the football muses visited the republic. And in a land which looks to the game
for its daily bread, he is considered nothing short of divine.
Making friends with the ball
Maradona made the ball an early friend
and it was his constant companion in the games of street football that taught
him how to compete with older and bigger opponents. Despite this toughening
process, however, Maradona's physique, or lack of it, almost cost him his
career.
The Argentinos Juniors youth coach, Francis Cornejo, had no doubts about his
ability - yet could not believe that the little left-footer was old enough to
play for his team. His date of birth duly established, Maradona became the star
of the 'Cebollitas' helping them go 136 matches unbeaten. The senior squad
beckoned, and on 20 October 1976 the 15-year-old debuted for Argentinos Juniors
in the first division against Talleres de C¨®rdoba.
Another 21 seasons, another bow: the final curtain fell on Diego's career
after Boca Juniors' 2-1 defeat of River Plate on 29 October 1997. In the
intervening years, Barcelona, Napoli, Seville and Newell's Old Boys had all
witnessed the Maradona phenomenon at first hand - a pocket battleship of a
player blessed with supreme technique and a magical left foot.
Controversial from the start
[Popperfoto] |
It was the
national team that saw the best of him, however. Thirty-four goals in 91
appearances make him the Albiceleste¡¯s second top scorer after Gabriel
Batistuta. And his contribution was such that the Argentine Football Federation
(AFA) recently 'retired' his old No.10 shirt. This love affair began on 3 April
1977 when Maradona first played for his country in a friendly against a local
selection. Soon there were calls for coach Cesar Luis Menotti to include him in
the squad for the forthcoming FIFA World Cup? finals. Argentina would win the
tournament on home soil - but without Diego whom Menotti thought too young to
participate.
Amends were made the following summer when Maradona inspired his peers (not
that he had many equals) to victory at the FIFA World Youth Championship in
Japan. "That was the most fun I had on a football pitch," he said later. "Apart
from my daughters, nothing has given me as much pleasure."
[Popperfoto] |
No stranger to success then, he also courted controversy. Apologists spoke of
the star's "honesty" and "refusal to sell out". Critics did not want for
ammunition either - after all, this was a man who once shot at journalists with
an air rifle and insulted the Pope on national TV. He always roused the extremes
of emotions, yet on the pitch he did as he pleased - and as no other could. "The
things I could do with a football, he could do with an orange," eulogised French
star Michel Platini.
Balance was the key - which was ironic given his struggle to find equilibrium
elsewhere in life. It was impossible to stop 'El Grande' as he slalomed towards
goal; and just as unerring was his accuracy from set pieces.
Toughness and grandeur
The 1982 FIFA World Cup? finals did not see enough
of those qualities. Argentina lost their opening game to Belgium then beat
Hungary and El Salvador. Diego scored twice against the Hungarians, but was
unable to repeat the dose against Italy and Brazil in the second round. In fact,
he grew so frustrated with his markers that he was sent off against the latter
as the holders crashed out.
Mexico 86 was another matter entirely. Maradona's five goals - one against
Italy and two apiece against England and Belgium in the quarter and semi-finals
- took Carlos Bilardo's side to the final, and sealed his reputation. It was as
the greatest player on the planet that he lifted the FIFA World Cup after a 3-2
win over West Germany.
Four years on, he assumed a quite different role for the title defence. The
tournament took place in Italy, where Maradona was nearing the end of a
seven-year spell with Napoli which would yield two Serie A championships and a
UEFA Cup. Though his physical powers diminished by a serious ankle injury, the
skipper's will remained as strong as ever and this carried the team through
against Brazil, Yugoslavia and Italy in the knockout stages. However, there was
nothing he could do about Andreas Brehme's Cup-winning penalty for West Germany.
[Popperfoto] |
The last chapter in Diego's FIFA World Cup history was also the darkest. It
unfolded at USA 94 where he helped Argentina triumph over Greece and Nigeria.
Then, however, he failed a drugs test - showing signs of the banned stimulant
ephedrine - and was banished from the competition. His team-mates followed soon
after, the result of defeats by Bulgaria and Romania.
Nevertheless, Argentina celebrated this beautiful, if chequered, career on 10
November 2001 with a testimonial match at La Bombonera stadium, home of Boca
Juniors. The No.10 captained the national team to victory over an All Star XI.
Same old routine, one might think, but this was a variation on an old theme -
Argentina bringing comfort to her favourite footballing son.
Playing Career
International honours
91 International appearances, 34 goals 1982 FIFA World Cup Spain? second
round 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico? Champion 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico? Player of
the Tournament 1990 FIFA World Cup Italy? runner up 1994 FIFA World Cup USA?
second round
Clubs
1976 - 1981 Argentinos Juniors (166 appearances, 116 goals) 1981 - 1982,
1995-1997 Boca Juniors (71 appearances, 35 goals) 1982 - 1984 Barcelona (58
appearances, 38 goals) 1984 - 1991 Napoli (259 appearances, 115 goals) 1992 -
1993 Seville (29 appearances, 7 goals) 1993 - 1994 Newell's Old Boys (5
appearances, 0 goals)
Club honours
1981 Argentine Champion 1987, 1990 Italian Champion 1987 Italian Cup Champion
1989 UEFA Cup Champion
Managerial career
Clubs
1994 Mandiy¨² de Corrientes 1995 Racing Club de Avellaneda
