The home ground of Napoli, San Paolo could be renamed after footballing great, Diego Amando Maradona.
This is following the death of the football icon on Wednesday in his home due to cardiac arrest at the age of 60.
The social media has been jampacked with massive tributes to the world cup winner, who experienced success with both clubs and country.
As a mark of respect for Maradona, his former club, Boca Juniors turned off all the lights in their stadium apart from one – which is a VIP box where he usually sits to come to watch the game.
Boca Juniors turned off all the lights in their stadium apart from one.
— Football Fights (@footbalIfights) November 26, 2020
Maradona's VIP box ❤ pic.twitter.com/zjAfmPeqlL
This was following a decision to chose 22:00 on Wednesday (01:00 GMT) – to match the number on his shirt as mark of respect. Also, stadiums across Argentina switched on their floodlights to honour his memory.
During his stint at Barcelona, he also won a Copa del Rey, a Copa de la Liga, and a Spanish Super Cup, scoring an impressive 38 goals in 58 matches. As a mark of respect, the La Liga club left their flags at half-mast outside the Camp Nou in his honour.
🔵🔴 Flags at half mast outside the Camp Nou in honour of Diego Maradona pic.twitter.com/ReSGMKseB2
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 26, 2020
Maradona is seen as a semi-god in his country for taking them to a world cup triumph in 1986 in a controversial manner. He will forever be remembered for what is termed the ‘Hand of God which occurred against England in the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Why Napoli should name San Paolo Stadium after Maradona?
Maradona was the one who led the club to the Serie two A titles they have ever won. He left in 1991 after seven years with the Pertonopei where he also won the UEFA Cup, the Coppa Italia, and an Italian Super Cup.
Reacting to the passage of the legend, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis admitted that the stadium could be named after him.
“I’d like to project Maradona’s face [onto the stadium] during the whole game tomorrow.
“It could be an idea to name the stadium San Paolo-Maradona, it’s something we can think about’, De Laurentiis told RMC Sport.
Coincidentally, their game tonight will be a home clash against Rijeka.
“Without Maradona there is no more football.”
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) November 26, 2020
Fans of Diego Maradona bid farewell to the Argentina football legend 👇 pic.twitter.com/2Y2EXRuuER
Since his departure, Napoli has never been the same again. Such a player that has etched his name in the history book of the club deserved such a huge honour as naming a stadium after him.
With so much love shown to him at Argentine, it is expected that some sports monuments to be named after him as a mark of respect.
Diego Maradona: Argentina Presidential villa prepares for millions of fans pour in to pay last respect to legend
As part of the three days of mourning declared in Argentina, million people are being expected to pay their respect to the football legend at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires.
His body has arrived at Casa Rosada, where it will be put on display for fans.It is therefore expected that millions of fans will pour in defying the COVID-19 protocol to see their national hero for the last time.
This has made officials to be rushing to install cordons and other measures to try to limit the spread of coronavirus, with big crowds already gathering outside the presidential palace.
A sea of people in Argentina shirts had thronged the streets to mourn Maradona’s death, and celebrate his life late into the night.
To assure all doubts, a post-mortem examination was done on Maradona’s body on Wednesday.
A minute’s silence took place before Wednesday’s Champions League matches and the same will happen before all other European fixtures this week.
You can watch the live wake keep below.
Argentina mourns Diego Maradona with a wake at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires https://t.co/yWLxtjD1UR
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 26, 2020
