The Naples stadium was officially renamed "Diego Armando Maradona", by virtue of a resolution adopted, Friday, December 4, by the city of Naples, less than ten days after the death of the Argentine star who wore the colors of Napoli between 1984 and 1991. 

The mayor of the city Luigi de Magistris had proposed to change the name of San Paolo stadium on November 25, just hours after the news of the disappearance of Maradona, who had become a true idol of the city in southern Italy after a passage marked by his only two Italian league titles.

"The deliberation was signed by the entire city council," the municipality of Naples said in a statement. 

Maradona is hailed by the town hall as "the greatest footballer of all time who, with his immense talent and his magic, honored the Naples jersey for seven years, offering him two scudetti (Italian league titles, Editor's note) and other prestigious cups, and receiving in exchange for the entire city an eternal and unconditional love ".  

Napoli's next home game is next Thursday in the Europa League against Real Sociedad. 

A decision that is unanimous

The Neapolitan players have already paid tribute to their ex-number 10 in the last two matches at San Paolo.

In the Europa League, they all wore his number on the back during the minute of silence, the day after his death.

They then played last Sunday against Roma in the league with a jersey reminiscent of that of Argentina, designed in tribute to Maradona.

"Welcome to the Diego Armando Maradona stadium", greeted the club in the evening on its social networks. 

🏟 |

Benvenuti hello Stadio Diego Armando Maradona!

😍



👉 https://t.co/clvAZhrMID



💙 #ForzaNapoliSemper pic.twitter.com/rwc2TVT7KY

- Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) December 4, 2020

Napoli "welcomes the resolution signed by the entire city council to rename Diego Armando Maradona the now ex-San Paolo stadium," according to a club statement. 

The Neapolitan president Aurelio de Laurentiis had supported the proposal of the mayor of the city in a letter addressed to Maradona: "I believe it is right to baptize San Paolo with your name to have you still with us".

The Naples stadium, inaugurated in 1959, is the third Italian enclosure in terms of capacity (around 55,000 seats), behind San Siro in Milan and the Olimpico in Rome, according to the club's website.

Its last renovation was carried out for the 1990 World Cup, where the stadium had notably hosted the hot semi-final between Italy, the host country, and Argentina, the team of Diego Maradona (qualifying on penalties from the Argentines).

It was in this stadium that Maradona was presented to the supporters on his arrival in Naples, in 1984, in an atmosphere of fire.

He came there for the last time, as a supporter, on February 12, 2014 for an Italian Cup semi-final return between Napoli and Roma.

With AFP   

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