Why Maradona Treated as God in Naples, Italy

Diego Maradona, a legend for his club & country is treated like a God in the city of Naples. He was loved so much in Naples  that the people there supported Argentina ahead of Italy in the 1990 FIFA World Cup. But what were the reasons for this unconditional love, let’s have a look.

Maradona arrived in Naples and was presented to the world media as a Napoli player on 5 July 1984, where he was welcomed by 75,000 fans at his presentation at the Stadio San Paolo. Sports writer David Goldblatt commented, “They [the fans] were convinced that the saviour had arrived.” Napoli had to pay a record transfer fee to FC Barcelona in order to sign him.

Prior to Maradona’s arrival, Italian football was dominated by teams from the north and centre of the country, such as A.C. Milan, Juventus, Inter Milan and Roma, and no team in the south of the Italian Peninsula had ever won a league title.

Stree Art in Naples

Maradona played for Napoli at a period when North-South tensions in Italy were at a peak due to a variety of issues, notably the economic differences between the two. Led by Maradona, Napoli won their first ever Serie A Italian Championship in 1986–87.

This triumph was followed by huge celebrations, this victory was seen as the victory of South Italy over North Italy. Neapolitans held mock funerals for Juventus and Milan, burning their coffins, their death notices announcing ‘May 1987, the other Italy has been defeated. A new empire is born. Murals of Maradona were painted on the city’s ancient buildings, and newborn children were named in his honour.

Napoli also got a taste of their first ever European glory in Maradona era, when they won UEFA cup in 1989. And Napoli also won their 2nd league title in the same year.

The following year the FIFA World Cup was held in Italy. The people in South Italy faced discriminations in their country, they were not even considered as Italians. Due to this reason Maradona urged his fans in Naples to support Argentina ahead of Italy. And they did so. In semi finals of the 1990 World Cup, Argentina defeated Italy on penalties.

Even today newly born babies are named after Maradona in Naples. He his perhaps their God or even more.