Italian football club Napoli on Friday renamed its stadium from Stadio San Paolo to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
This is to honour the club’s former captain Diego Maradona who died as a result of heart failure in November at the age of 60.
Maradona, regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, had a seven year spell with the Italian club between 1984 and 1991.
The forward joined Napoli from Barcelona and led the team to their only two Serie A titles – in 1987 and 1990. He also helped take the team to the Italian Cup in 1987, as well as the UEFA Cup in 1989, Napoli’s only major European title.
The Naples city council confirmed nine days after Maradona’s death that the stadium has been renamed in his honour as the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
The club in a statement released on Friday evening stated “SSC Napoli is delighted about today’s decision by the Naples City Council to rename the Stadio San Paolo in memory of Diego Armando Maradona.”
“With his immense talent and his magic, he honoured the Napoli shirt for seven years, giving it two historical championships and other prestigious cups, and receiving in exchange from the whole city an eternal and unconditional love,” the statement added.
Napoli had during their Europa League match at home against Rijeka paid tribute to the great legend with captain Lorenzo Insigne laying a wreath before kick-off, while the Napoli team all lined up in ‘Maradona 10’s shirts.
