Napoli Changed Stadium Name To Maradona

NAPLES, Italy: Napoli have officially renamed their sacred stadium, San Paolo, to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona – to commemorate their legend.

The Argentine died on November 25 at the age of 60.

Napoli, the Italian club led by Maradona for two Serie A titles, the UEFA Cup and the Coppa Italia for seven years wearing their jerseys, are among the clubs most mourning Maradona’s departure.

Revealing his attempt to make the change last week, club president Aurelio De Laurentiis admitted the effort began 17 years ago.

“I have been talking to the local authorities for the past 17 years, I often apply to buy the stadium and name it Diego Armando Maradona.

“If we have to follow the tradition to call it San Paolo and Maradona, we will use both.

“It will not change anything, but Maradona deserves its recognition.

“If I had to build a new stadium, I would name it that way,” De Laurentiis said.

In total, Maradona played 259 times for Napoli, scoring 115 goals for the club’s highest record at the time as well as being the team captain.

Thousands of fans marched on the streets of Naples on the day of his death, and the next day, all 11 Napoli players wore 10 Maradona jerseys to commemorate their hero.