Born, Diego Armando Maradona, to a poor family that had moved from Corrientes Province, at the Policlínico (Polyclinic) Evita Hospital in Lanús, Buenos Aires Province Argentina on October 30, 1960. He was raised in Villa Fiorito, a shantytown on the southern outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

He was the first son after four daughters. He has two younger brothers, Hugo (el Turco) and Raúl (Lalo), both of whom were also professional football players. His father Diego Maradona “Chitoro” (1927–2015) was Guaraní, and his mother Dalma Salvadora Franco ‘Doña Tota’ (1930–2011) was of Italian descent.

Football career

Maradona started his club football career with Argentinos Juniors, a reputable club in his native Argentina, in 1976. He left the club in 1981 after scoring 116 goals in 167 matches before joining Argentina giant Boca Juniors in the same year. At Boca Juniors Maradona played a total of 40 matches scoring 28 goals in the process.

Barcelona was his next destination after leaving Boca in 1982, but injury denied the genius a career with the cules as he can only make just 36 appearance for the Blaugrana in his two year stint scoring just 22 goals despite his high profile move and huge expectations. He joined Napoli in 1984, and it was in Napoli that the light at the end the tunnel shone.

His stint with Napoli was highly successful as he led the team to a UEFA cup, two Serial A title and scoring 81 goals in 188 matches between 1984 to 1991. He also had stints with devil’s, Newell Old Boys before finally returning to Boca Juniors. In all Maradona played a total of 491 matches, scoring 259 goals in his club career.

Maradona’s national team journey started when he represented Argentina at the under20 level from 1977 and he was drafted into the first team that same year, playing for both the under20 and the national team until 1979 when he stop representating the under20’s to focus on the Abiceleste after scoring 8 goals in 15 matches, and leading the team to win the 1979 under20 world cup in Japan.

His senior national team career produced a total of 34 goals in 91 matches and lead the Argentina national team to win the world cup at the Mexico 86. Maradona played in four FIFA World Cups, and won the golden ball for player of the tournament in Mexico.

In the 1986 World Cup quarter final, he scored both goals in a 2–1 victory over England that entered football history for two different reasons. The first goal was an unpenalized handling foul known as the ” Hand of God”, while the second goal followed a 60 m (66 yd) dribble past five England players, voted ” Goal of the Century ” by FIFA.com voters in 2002. He also won three Copa America in his trophy laden national team career.

Coaching career

Maradona was coach of Argentina’s national football team from November 2008 to late 2010. He was in charge of the team at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa before leaving at the end of the tournament. After stint with the Argentine national team, he coached Dubai-based club Al Wasl in the UAE Pro-League for the 2011–12 season.

In 2017, Maradona became the coach of Fujairah before leaving at the end of the season. In May 2018, Maradona was announced as the new chairman of Belarusian club Dynamo Brest. He arrived in Brest and was presented by the club to start his duties in July. From September 2018 to June 2019, Maradona was coach of Mexican club Dorados. He was the coach of Argentine Primera División club Gimnasia de La Plata from 2019 until his death in 2020.

His death

Maradona, also known as the golden kid, “Ma-Gi-Ca” ( magical) and many more , was a visionary player and regarded by many as the greatest football player of all time died on 25th of November, 2020 at a hospital in Tigre, Buenos Province, Argentina aged 60 years and 25 days.