NAPOLI have officially renamed their famous San Paolo home Stadio Diego Armando Maradona – in honour of their greatest ever player.
The Argentine legend died aged 60 on November 25, sending the football world into mourning.
Napoli’s home has been renamed in Diego Maradona’s honourCredit: Reuters
The Argentine is Napoli’s greatest ever playerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
And no club was more touched than Napoli, for whom he inspired to win two Serie A titles, a Uefa Cup and Coppa Italia during a stunning seven-year spell.
In revealing his plans to try and make the change last week, club president Aurelio De Laurentiis admitted that he’s been trying to do so for the last 17 years.
He told Sky Italia: “I’ve been in talks with local authorities for the past 17 years, I have always asked to buy the stadium and rename it ‘Diego Armando Maradona’.
“If then, for tradition, we will need to call it both ‘San Paolo’ and ‘Maradona’ so be it.
“It won’t change much, but it’s only right that Maradona has this recognition.
“Even if we were to build a whole new stadium, I would name it like that.”
In total, Maradona played 259 times for the Italian club, scoring a then-record 115 times, and was named captain.
Thousands of devastated fans took to the streets of Naples on the evening of his passing, to pay respects to their hero.
Napoli paid tribute to Maradona during their November 26 clash with RijekaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The next day, Napoli paid their own tribute, with all 11 players wearing ‘Maradona 10’ on the back of their jerseys.
And Lorenzo Insigne placed flowers outside the ground before the match.
Now at least, the famous old ground will wear the name of the greatest player to ever grace it.
Fans lined the streets of Naples on the evening of Maradona’s deathCredit: AFP or licensors
Watch Carlos Tevez pay emotional tribute to Diego Maradona at Boca Juniors after Copa Libertadores goal
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
