Napoli name stadium after Diego Maradona

Napoli’s stadium has been renamed after Diego Maradona in memory of the late Argentine who led the club to two Italian league titles, Naples town hall said Friday.

The city authorities and the club’s president had proposed renaming the San Paolo Stadium within hours of Maradona’s death on November 25.

Maradona, who played two seasons for Barca, one for Sevilla and spent seven mostly glorious years at Napoli, died on November 25 aged 60.

Clubs and football-lovers all over the world continued to pay tribute to Diego Maradona with particularly poignant moments in Italy and Spain where the Argentine played.

Napoli wore a jersey reminiscent of Argentina’s for their first league game since his death.

The club said the launch had been in the works for the past year.

Captain Lorenzo Insigne, who curled in a free-kick after half an hour, celebrated his goal by holding up and kissing Maradona’s iconic No. 10 shirt.

“It’s sure these days after Maradona’s death have given us an extra boost, our idol has passed away and it hurts,” said Insigne.

“Today, we wanted more than usual to perform and get a result, for him and for the whole city that is suffering. We dedicate the victory to him.”

(AFP)