Biography: Diego Armando Maradona | Argentine footballer, one of the largest in history.

(Buenos Aires, 1961) Argentine footballer, one of the largest in history, often compared to the legendary Pele. Although his ability with the ball and his refined technique matched the Brazilian, the trajectory of Maradona was much more irregular: his difficult character, health problems and drug addiction themselves part of his career, but it did not prevent his genius shines on numerous occasions. After winning in 1979 the World Youth Championship with the selection of his country and triumph two years later in Argentina's Boca Juniors, began a European tour that took him to the F.C. Barcelona (1982-84), Napoli (1984-91) and Seville (1992-93). Back to Argentina, he played in Argentina's Boca Juniors and Newell's Old Boys before retiring in 1997. With argentina's national team he participated in four world and won the world title in Mexico (1986), where he had a marvelous and unforgettable performance.

Diego Armando Maradona

The most popular footballer of Argentina was born, as recorded in the Civil Register, on October 30, 1961 in Lanús, although all identify it as the fluff of Villa Fiorito, where he spent his childhood and where he rose to fame. At age nine he began his romance with soccer, when it acted in a playground equipment known as the onions. Don Diego, his father, ran a popcorn in the neighborhood and ran the Red Star team, which Diego son agreed to being teen and in spite of his older teammates. Studied at the commercial college Avellaneda, but not completed the first year of the secondary, because he spent his hours doing (nearly juggling) games with the ball.

Signed by Argentinos Juniors, he made his debut in the first division in 1976, ten days before the age of sixteen years. He continued playing at Argentinos Juniors until 1980, and although his team did not obtain any Championship, Maradona was the top scorer of the Argentine tournaments in 1978, 1979 and 1980. In 1979 he joined the youth team which won the World Championship. In 1981 he joined Boca Juniors (River Plate also tried to hire him), team with which came out champion that same year.

The European adventure

Already by then the clubs of the continent were the natural destination of the great promises of American football, and Maradona was the most prominent. Hired in 1982 by the Football Club Barcelona for 1,200 million pesetas (7.2 million euros, an astronomical figure at the time), got the League Cup, the Copa del Rey with the Catalans (both in 1983) and the Supercup of Spain (1984), but a hepatitis and a major injury hindered his performance. Again by an astronomical amount spent in 1984 to Naples, which won the leagues in 1987 and 1990, the Cup 1989 UEFA and Italy Super Cup in 1991.

With F. C. Barcelona t-shirt

During his Italian stage he married Claudia Villafañe, which would have two daughters, Dalma and Giannina. Maradona remained in Naples until 1991, the year in which a doping control detected cocaine use, so was suspended for fifteen months. Shortly after he was arrested in Buenos Aires in a police raid. It was released on April 28, 1992 and was confronted with an accusation of supply and possession of drugs.

His international career ended tumultuously at the Seville, a team that did not complete the season 1992-1993. When he returned to Argentina after his European experience, he acted in the Rosario club Newell's Old Boys (1993-1994), and after serving the suspension imposed in 1994 by the international soccer authority (FIFA), returned to dress shirt of Boca Juniors in 1995, in an irregular season in terms of its performance. In October 1997, announced its final withdrawal after, once again, give positive in a doping control.

The hand of God and the goal of the century

With argentina's national team, Maradona had already worn their magic in the combination that won the World Youth Championship in Japan (1979). In the absolute category, Maradona was part of the national teams that participated in four World Championships: Spain (1982), Mexico (1986), Italy (1990) and United States (1994). He won the Championship of the world in Mexico (1986) and the runner-up in Italy (1990). In the United States (1994) world only came to play two matches; After the second, positive in a doping control and was suspended.

Maradona kissing the cup of the world (Mexico, 1986)

Where your figure shone most intensely was undoubtedly in the Mexico World Cup, when his ability to drag all the defense of the opposing team with impressive ease for the dribbling and projection left stunned millions of fans who followed the Championship through the television. Particularly memorable was his performance in the quarter-finals: four years after the Falklands war, Argentine and English clashed in a match of maximum rivalry, which ended with the victory of the albicelestes 2-1, with two goals by Maradona.

The first one should have been overruled (Maradona scored with his fist a ball running against the British goalkeeper), but not for this reason is less famous: asked later if he had marked both by hand, Maradona replied that he had been "the hand of God", and that name went down in history. The second, called precisely the goal of the century, was one of his brilliance hardly surmountable: starting your own field, Maradona dribló, one after the other to five English players and the goalie, and scored a footed.

The goal of the century (Argentina - England, Mexico, 1986)

Professionally, after his retirement, he served as coach, Manager of Boca Juniors, a sports commentator and TV presenter. Despite the numerous scandals and controversies that starred during and after his career, Maradona continued being idolized in his country. The lint knew how to excite the lovers of football and earned a spot in the history of the sport. The song composed by Fito Páez (give joy to my heart) and tango Magician Diego, Enrique Bugatti, are some of the tributes that have dedicated their compatriots.

In 2008 he was appointed coach of the Argentine soccer team, and its management, as expected, was controversial: despite having the likes of Leo Messi, whom he recognized as his successor, the combined albiceleste wasn't of the quarterfinals in the World Cup of South Africa 2010.

Extracted from the website: Biografías y Vidas