Napoli officially renames their home ground stadium after the late Argentine club legend, Diego Armando Maradona.
Unanimously, the Naples City has agreed on a resolution that will change the name of Napoli’s home stadium from Stadio San Paolo to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
A statement from the council read, “with his immense talent and his magic, he honored 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”.
Also, the statement noted the connection the working-class shared with Maradona who happened to be raised in poverty in his native Buenos Aires.
“Through the football victories of the Argentine champion, it was not only the Napoli team that won but the whole city which fully identifies with him”.
“Always on the side of the weakest and the common people, Maradona fought the prejudices and discrimination that Neapolitans were still subjected to inside the stadium, becoming the idol of the entire city”.
Initially, the resolution was proposed by Naples mayor Luigi De Magistris hours after news that the legend had passed away last week.
After leading Napoli to two Serie A titles during his seven-year run from 1984-1991, Maradona is a revered figure in Naples.
The Serie A club, Napoli, had the chance to pay tribute to Maradona last wee during their Europa League match at home against Rijeka. Captain Lorenzo Insigne laid a wreath before kick-off while the team lined up in “Maradona 10” shirts.
After the game in which Napoli won 2-0, forward Dries Mertens said, “it was an awful moment for me. So I can only imagine how those who lived through his time at Napoli must have felt”.
“He made such a big impact on this city and for everyone in the south of Italy. I want to be positive and focus on my memories of a smiling man who loved football. It was tough to pull that shirt on. In some ways, it was always a dream. But not like this”.
The final step in the stadium’s name change will be the authorization of the Perfect of the Province of Naples which is expected to be a formality.