Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has announced that the Neapolitan club’s stadium could be renamed after Argentina legend Diego Maradona, who died on Wednesday.
Former Napoli star Maradona – arguably football’s greatest ever player – died at the age of 60 after a suspected heart attack.
Maradona helped Napoli win their first ever League title in the 1986-87 season and another in the 1989-90 campaign.
The Partenopei have yet to taste Serie A success ever since managing only near-misses.
As Napoli fans and Naples natives mourn the death of Maradona – a god-like figure in the city – De Laurentiis said the Stadio San Paolo could be named after the football icon.
“It could be an idea to name the stadium San Paolo-Maradona, it’s something we can think about,” De Laurentiis told RMC Sport.
Naples mayor Luigi de Magistris also tweeted: “Let’s name the San Paolo stadium after Diego Armando Maradona!!!”
Gennaro Gattuso’s Napoli host Rijeka in their Europa League Group F clash at the Stadio San Paolo on Thursday. Napoli are second heading into the matchday four fixture, adrift of AZ Alkmaar on goal difference.
“I’d like to project Maradona’s face [onto the stadium] during the whole game tomorrow,” De Laurentiis said.
Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata head coach said Maradona was discharged from hospital a fortnight ago following brain surgery, having undergone a routine operation for a subdural haematoma after being admitted to hospital due to concerns over anaemia and dehydration.
Maradona, who went on to coach Argentina at the 2010 World Cup, had been hospitalised just days after turning 60. He appeared in a fragile state when he briefly made an appearance as his Gimnasia side played a match on the evening of his birthday last month.
Maradona won 91 caps for Argentina between 1977 and 1994, scoring 34 goals at international level. He started his career with Argentinos Juniors before joining Boca Juniors and went on to play for Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell’s Old Boys before returning to Boca in 1995.
Maradona also had stints in charge of Textil Mandiyu, Racing Club, Al-Wasl, Fujairah and Dorados de Sinaloa in Mexico before being appointed by Gimnasia last year.
— Story by Sammy Wejinya
©SPNAfrica
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