Far Post Header ‘Hall of Fame’ No.15 – Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a name that has to feature in the Far Post Header ‘Hall of Fame’. He is widely-regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all-time.
He became the first player to break the world transfer record fee twice, first in a move to Barcelona and then to Napoli.
Known for his lightning-quick pace, fantastic dribbling and close-control, the Argentine playmaker was also a fantastic dead-ball specialist. Maradona is only 5 foot 5, and this helped him with his dribbling and control of the ball, making it very hard for him to be dispossessed. Defenders would get frustrated with not being able to get anywhere near the playmaker, regularly kicking out as a way of stopping him.
A perfect example of this came in 1983 when Athletic Bilbao’s Andoni Goikoetxea tackled Maradona from behind, shattering his ankle with a reckless and deliberate foul. Goikoetxea was given a lengthy ban.
Maradona could play in the free-role behind two strikers or as the second striker in a strike partnership. Lionel Messi is probably the closest modern-day player to match his skillset.
Although the Argentine had his controversial moments over the course of his career, he remains one of the greatest players of all-time.
The 1986 World Cup Quarter Final against England was perhaps the greatest depiction of his career. Maradona scored twice in a 2-1 win, the two goals completely different from each other. The first goal was a real moment of controversy as Maradona punched the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton to give Argentina the lead. He later stated that the goal was scored by the ‘Hand of God’. It remains the most memorable moment of his career and 34 years on, those that remember the goal in England are still bitter about it.
A few minutes later, Maradona took the ball from inside his own half, dribbling past five England defenders, rounding Peter Shilton and tapping the all home. The way he made the goal seem effortless was superb. It was given the award of the ‘Goal of the Century’ in an award by FIFA in 2002.
Maradona made his first-team debut for Argentinos Juniors four days before his 16th birthday. He spent five years at the club between 1976 to 1981, scoring 115 goals in 167 appearances. It was during this time that Maradona won his first cap at the age of 17,scoring his first international goal almost two years later. He was left out of the 1978 World Cup squad as the Argentina coach believed that he was too young.
Boca Juniors then came in and signed Maradona where he spent one season, winning the Argentine Premier Division.
He moved to Barcelona after Spain ’82 for a world-record fee of £5 million. He played in all five of Argentina’s games in the World Cup tournament, scoring twice. Defenders gave him a hard time, kicking and fouling him whenever he got the ball. The one time he retaliated was in Argentina’s final match of the tournament against Brazil and Maradona got sent off with five minutes to go after retaliating
Maradona instigated a full punch-up in the Copa del Ray Final in his second season at Barca. After being on the receiving end of some brutal challenges from opponents Athletic Bilbao, Maradona punched, elbowed, kicked and headbutted numerous opponents during the melee. This incident gave Barcelona little choice but to sell their star man, despite scoring 38 times in 58 games for the Catalan club.
Barcelona negotiated a deal with Italian side Napoli, who broke the world transfer record taking Maradona to Naples for £6.9 million. He was unveiled as a Napoli player in July 1984 and presented to a huge crowd of 75,000 fans at Napoli’s Stadio San Paolo home. He soon became the club captain and became the centre point of the team.
Two years after joining Napoli, Maradona played a massive part in winning the World Cup for Argentina. He captained the side and lead by example, scoring five goals and also making five assists, winning the Golden Ball in the process.
As mentioned above, the game in the Quarter Final brought Maradona’s talents and cheating to the world’s attention. He was undoubtedly the best player in the world at that time, but resorted to punching in a goal, later saying it was scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God”.
Maradona scored two goals in Argentina’s semi-final victory over Belgium and created the assist to team-mate Jorge Burruchaga for the winner in the Final over West Germany.
In the following season, Maradona was instrumental in guiding Napoli to their first Serie A title in 1986/87. They also won the Coppa Italia in the same season. Murals of Diego Maradona were painted on walls and buildings across Naples in the days after the Scudetto was secured.
Napoli finished runners-up in the league for the next two seasons and won the UEFA Cup in 1988/89. This was followed up by a second Serie A title in 1989/90.
Maradona captained Argentina at the World Cup in Italia ’90, but his Argentina side lost 1-0 in the Final to West Germany.
Off the pitch, Maradona was having all sorts of problems with drug use, cocaine in particular. He also missed games and training, accumulating many fines from Napoli.
Maradona was given a 15-month ban for cocaine use, Maradona left Napoli in 1992. He joined Spanish side Sevilla for a year before returning to Argentina to play for Newell’s Old Boys.
Maradona played in his fourth World Cup at USA ’94, scoring once in two games before failing a drugs test and being sent home in disgrace. This was the last time that he played for Argentina.
Maradona spent a further year at Newell’s Old Boys before ending his playing career with a two year stint at Boca Juniors.
He has been a manager for several years now, including a spell as the manager of the Argentina national side.
Whatever is said about the controversial Diego Maradona, one thing is certain. He truly was one of the greatest footballers to ever play the beautiful game.
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