Naples mourns Diego Maradona as his former club bids to rename the stadium in his honor

Fans flocked to Italian football club Napoli’s Stadio San Paolo. Others lit candles in honor of Diego Maradona after the news of his death was confirmed on Wednesday.

The superstar, one of the sport’s greatest players, is considered nothing short of a deity in the southern Italian city after spending seven memorable years playing for Serie A team Napoli.

Murals still adorn walls across the city, while a banner in his memory was hung on the outside of the stadium which read: “The King.”

Which perhaps explains why Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis says he wants to rename the Stadio San Paolo in the Argentine’s honor.

“I believe it is right to name the San Paolo after you, so we can keep you with us as a witness of the excellent path this team has taken,” he said in a statement.

Napoli took to the field for first time since Maradona’s passing on Thursday and beat Rijeka 2-0 in the UEFA Europa League.

The squad walked onto the pitch wearing Maradona’s iconic No.10 shirt with his name on the back, and observed a minute’s silence before kick-off. Images of Maradona also appeared on the electric screens around the stadium.

Fans, unable to attend the match amid Covid-19 restrictions, gathered in the streets of Naples and outside the San Paolo stadium to pay their respects.

READ: The tormented genius who became one of football’s greatest players

Diego Maradona playing for Napoli in 1986.

Transforming the region

Maradona arrived at Napoli in 1984 for a then world record transfer fee. As one TV commentator remarked at the time: “The poorest city in Italy buys the world’s most expensive player.”

But Maradona transformed the club’s fortunes on the pitch, leading it to its first Serie A title in 1987, with a second following in 1990.

His influence also brought fresh hope to a region suffering from poverty and restored pride to a city looked down upon by much of the country.

Maradona’s former agent Jon Smith told CNN’s that the Argentine was “single-handedly” turning around the entire region. No wonder many Neapolitans deified the Argentine.

“The southern part of Italy, in those days, was very poor, very religious,” said Smith.

“(It) had these huge posters of Jesus hanging off most of the buildings and then massive posters of Diego next to Jesus. It was that level of stardom and it’s difficult to manage that.”

People gather outside the San Paolo stadium in Naples to mourn the death of Maradona.

‘More than a footballer’

Over 70,000 fans had greeted Maradona when he first signed for the club and coming from a humble background himself, he quickly identified with the issues faced by the city and an unbreakable bond was formed.

“I know all the problems they have. These people make sacrifices to buy the ticket,” Maradona once said.

“They believed in me, they gave me everything without knowing me and that cannot be forgotten.”

Italian football expert James Horncastle says the fact Maradona chose to play for Napoli was “symbolic” given he could have walked into any other team in the world.

“He wanted to win there because he felt like one of them,” Horncastle, who covers Serie A for The Athletic, told CNN Sport.

“The way in which Neapolitans identify with Diego Maradona, who came from poverty, is this small guy who stuck it to the big men, who was this anti-establishment figure who could restore pride to that city.

“He basically told them that ‘you can be winners too.’ For that reason, he’s more than a footballer in Naples.”

READ: Maradona lying in honor at Argentina’s presidential palace

Diego Maradona is carried around the field after leading Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup final. Argentina defeated West Germany at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

A 16-year-old Maradona warms up in Buenos Aires in 1977. A year earlier, he made his professional debut with the club Argentinos Juniors. A few months after that, he made his international debut with Argentina's national team.

Maradona celebrates on the shoulders of teammates after they won the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championships.

Maradona sits at his home in Buenos Aires in 1980. From the earliest days of his career, he was known as "El Pibe de Oro" ("The Golden Boy").

Maradona is carried by fans after leading Buenos Aires club Boca Juniors to a championship in 1981. The next year, Boca Juniors sold Maradona to Spanish club Barcelona for a world-record fee.

Maradona, playing for Barcelona, dribbles past Manchester United players in 1984.

Maradona married Claudia Villafa?e in 1984. They had two daughters together before divorcing in 2004.

During the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup, Maradona outjumps England goalkeeper Peter Shilton to score. The ball went in off Maradona's hand and should have been disallowed, but the officials missed the call. It is now known as the "Hand of God" goal after Maradona said he hit the ball a little with his head "and a little with the hand of God."

In the same match against England, Maradona scored another goal that would go down in history. He started from his own half, dribbling past many English defenders on his way to scoring what was later called "The Goal of the Century."

Maradona and Pelé hold "Sports Oscar" trophies in 1987. In 2000, the two split FIFA's Player of the Century award.

Maradona ties his shoelaces before a friendly game against West Germany in 1987.

Maradona holds his daughters Dalma and Giannina in 1989.

Maradona celebrates a teammate's goal during the 1990 World Cup. Argentina advanced to the final but lost to West Germany.

Maradona was back for his fourth World Cup in 1994, but it wasn't for long.

Maradona addresses the media after Argentina dropped him from the 1994 World Cup team. Just hours before the team's final first-round game, it was revealed that he had tested positive for the use of ephedrine, a banned stimulant. In 1991, Maradona tested positive for cocaine use and was banned for the sport for 15 months.

Maradona is joined by his wife, Claudia, and their daughters Giannina, left, and Dalma while celebrating his 35th birthday in 1995.

Maradona kisses his Boca Juniors teammate Claudio Caniggia after a goal against rival River Plate in 1996. Maradona finished out his playing career at Boca, where he starred in the early 1980s before moving to Europe.

Maradona talks to Cuban President Fidel Castro before recording a TV show in Havana, Cuba, in 2005.

Maradona balances a ball on his head at the Cannes Film Festival in France in 2008. A Maradona documentary was making its premiere at the festival.

Maradona, as manager of Argentina's national team, is greeted by schoolchildren before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Maradona celebrates a goal during the 2010 World Cup. The team advanced to the quarterfinals before being eliminated by Germany.

Maradona gives instructions to Argentina star Lionel Messi during a match at the 2010 World Cup.

Maradona meets another famous Argentine, Pope Francis, in 2014.

Maradona, attending the 2018 World Cup as a fan, celebrates an Argentina goal in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Maradona greets fans outside the Casa Rosada government house after meeting with Argentine President Alberto Fernandez in 2019.

Maradona's last managerial job was with Argentine club Gimnasia y Esgrima. Here, he is seen before a match in January 2020.

A woman walks past a Maradona mural in San Justo, Argentina, in October 2020.

In pictures: Soccer legend Diego Maradona

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‘Maradona is a God’

Despite producing some sublime football for Napoli, things were more complicated for Maradona off the pitch.

Horncastle says Maradona’s time in Naples was a “metaphor” of his life with extreme highs being followed by dark lows.

There was alcoholism, drug use and connections with the Neapolitan mafia, with the icon partying from Sunday to Wednesday at the height of his fame.

FILE - In this March 1987 file photo, Pele, left, and Maradona hold "Sports Oscar" trophies in Milan, Rome. The Argentine soccer great who was among the best players ever and who led his country to the 1986 World Cup title before later struggling with cocaine use and obesity, died from a heart attack on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, at his home in Buenos Aires. He was 60. (AP Photo/File)

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Whilst his personal life was mired in controversy, Maradona’s impact on the region remains everlasting.

Former Italy star Fabio Cannavaro once said: “Maradona is a God to the people of Naples. Maradona changed history.”

Napoli’s stadium announcer Daniele Bellini said he used to have a picture of Maradona beside his childhood bed and would go to sleep every night happy because the legend was playing for his team.

He told CNN Sport that the city of Naples would not forget what Maradona did for its people.

“This town has always been attached to Diego, because he has always loved the people and made us win a lot in the field of sport,” he said in a written statement.