Football

Napoli suggest renaming San Paolo Stadium after Maradona

A general view shows the San Paolo stadium in Naples on November 25, 2020 after the annoucement’s of Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona’s death. – Argentine football legend Diego Maradona has died at the age of 60, his spokesman announced November 25, 2020. (Photo by Carlo Hermann / AFP)


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

For more content from Sports Network Africa, see our Streaming and VOD platform, www.spnafrica.com and sign up to our daily newsletter by clicking here http://eepurl.com/gYWNuj

Sammy Wejinya

Recent Posts

World trail athletes aiming for the Top of the Table in RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town

The eyes of the trail world will be focused on the southern tip of Africa…

6 hours ago

Marathon magic in New York and Soweto

Competitive racing was the order of the day at the TCS New York City Marathon…

2 weeks ago

Mainz 05 Coaches Inspire Youth at Totalsport Safe-Hub in Johannesburg’s Alexandra

A coaching team from Bundesliga club 1.FSV Mainz 05 has visited the Totalsport Safe-Hub in…

3 weeks ago

Spotlight on African basketball talent and milestones as NBA’s 2024/25 season takes off

An NBA season packed with African talent and colourful courts is underway, with games available…

3 weeks ago

Tsitsikamma and Trail Running – setting the gold standard for inclusive conservation

Victor Mokoena and his team in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park…

4 weeks ago

Xaba and Tola re-write the record books at Sanlam’s Cape Town Marathon

Rising Ethiopian marathon star, Abdisa Tola, and South Africa’s running great, Glenrose ‘Supercharger’ Xaba, created…

1 month ago