Diego Maradona

Diego Armando Maradona Franco (Spanish pronunciation: born 30 October 1960) is a retired Argentine professional footballer. He has served as a manager and coach at other clubs as well as for the national team of Argentina. Many experts, football critics, former players, current players and football fans regard Maradona as the greatest football player of all time. He was joint FIFA Player of the 20th Century with Pelé.
Maradona played in four FIFA World Cups, including the 1986 World Cup in Mexico where he captained Argentina and led them to victory over West Germany in the final, and won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. In the 1986 World Cup quarter final, he scored both goals in a 2–1 victory over England that entered football history for two different reasons. The first goal was an unrealized handling foul known as the "Hand of God", while the second goal followed a 60 m (66 yd) dribble past five England players, voted "The Goal of the Century" by FIFA.com voters in 2002.
He coached Dubai-based club Al Wasl in the UAE Pro-League for the 2011–12 season. In August 2013, Maradona joined Argentine Primera D club Deportivo Riestra's staff as "spiritual coach".


 A playmaker who operated in the classic number 10 position, Maradona is the only player in football history to set the world record transfer fee twice, first when he transferred to Barcelona for a then world record £5m, and second, when he transferred to Napoli for another record fee £6.9m. He played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys during his club career, and is most famous for his time at Napoli where he won numerous accolades. In his international career with Argentina, he earned 91 caps and scored 34 goals. Maradona's exceptional vision, passing, ball control, dribbling skills, speed, reflexes and thinking time was combined with his small size (he was 5'5", or 1.65m) giving him a low center of gravity which allowed him to be more maneuverable than most other football players;




 At a Glance ...........


 Date of birth: 30 October 1960 (age 54)
 Place of birth: Lanús, Buenos Aires, Argentina
 Full name : Diego Armando Maradona Franco
 Height: 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)

 Playing position:  Attacking midfielder; Second striker

Senior career: 

Years               Team                           Apps†                   (Gls)

1976–1981      Argentinos Juniors          166                    (116)

1981–1982      Boca Juniors                     40                      (28)

1982–1984      Barcelona                        36                       (22)

1984–1991      Napoli                                       188                        (81)

1992–1993      Sevilla                           26                         (5)

1993–1994      Newell's Old Boys         5                          (0)

1995–1997      Boca Juniors                  30                         (7)

Total                                                     491                       (259)

Youth career:

1968–1969      Estrella Roja

1970–1974      Los Cebollitas

1975–1976      Argentinos Juniors

Teams managed:

1994    Mandiyú de Corrientes

1995    Racing Club

2008–2010      Argentina

2011–2012      Al Wasl

National team:

1977–1979      Argentina U20            24        (13)

1977–1994      Argentina                    91        (34)

Honors:

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

 Appearances (Goals).