Diego Maradona Timeline

Maradona fulfilled a childhood dream by transferring from Argentinos Juniors to Boca Juniors. He helped the club win the 1981 Metropolitano championship and became an idol of the Boca faithful before moving abroad.

Image source: Boca Juniors

After the 1982 World Cup, Maradona moved to FC Barcelona for a then-world-record fee of around £5 million. His time in Spain was marked by brilliant performances but also injuries, illness, and conflicts, including a notorious brawl in the 1984 Copa del Rey final.

Image source: FC Barcelona

Maradona joined Italian club Napoli for a world-record £6.9 million fee. In Naples, he would reach the peak of his club career, transforming a modest southern Italian side into champions and becoming a beloved icon of the city.

Image source: SSC Napoli

Maradona inspired Napoli to their first Serie A championship in club history, a historic triumph for southern Italy. He finished as the league's top scorer that season and became a near-religious figure in Naples.

Image source: 1986–87 Serie A

Maradona captained Napoli to victory in the 1988–89 UEFA Cup, defeating VfB Stuttgart in the final. It was the club's first major European trophy and further solidified his status as Napoli's greatest-ever player.

Maradona guided Napoli to their second Serie A title in 1990, confirming the club's place among Italy's elite during his era. He also led them to multiple Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana victories during his seven years at the club.

Image source: 1989–90 Serie A

After serving his ban, Maradona left Napoli and joined Spanish side Sevilla under coach Carlos Bilardo. His stint lasted only one season, marked by flashes of skill but declining fitness, before a falling-out with the club's management.

Image source: Sevilla FC

Maradona returned to Argentine football with Newell's Old Boys in Rosario. His spell was brief and troubled, but he still earned a recall to the national team during this period under coach Alfio Basile.

Image source: Newell's Old Boys

Maradona returned to Boca Juniors for a final stint from 1995 to 1997, where he continued to display glimpses of genius despite fitness struggles. He played his last official match on October 25, 1997, and retired shortly afterward at age 36.

Maradona tested positive for cocaine while playing for Napoli and received a 15-month ban from football. The suspension marked the beginning of a well-publicized struggle with drug addiction that shadowed the rest of his career.

In a FIFA internet poll for Player of the Century, Maradona finished first among online voters, sharing the award with Pelé after a separate panel vote. The recognition confirmed his standing among the greatest footballers in history.

During the mid-1990s, Maradona had short and unsuccessful spells managing Deportivo Mandiyú and Racing Club in Argentina. These early coaching experiences foreshadowed his later, more prominent managerial roles.

Maradona officially retired from professional football on his 37th birthday in 1997. His farewell matches followed in subsequent years, and he struggled with health issues and addiction during his transition away from playing.

Maradona was appointed manager of the Argentina national team in November 2008. After a rocky qualifying campaign, he led the team to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where they reached the quarterfinals before losing 4–0 to Germany.

Following his departure from the national team, Maradona coached Dubai-based club Al-Wasl in the UAE Pro-League. His tenure lasted about a year and ended without major silverware, though it kept him involved in global football.

Maradona took on a role as chairman of Belarusian club Dynamo Brest in 2018, a short-lived executive position. He later moved into management again with Mexican second-division side Dorados de Sinaloa.

Image source: FC Dynamo Brest

Maradona's final managerial post was with Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata in Argentina, where he was warmly embraced by fans. He remained in charge until his death in November 2020, having improved the team's fortunes considerably.

Image source: Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata

In early November 2020, Maradona underwent emergency surgery for a subdural hematoma. He recovered initially but died of acute pulmonary edema less than two weeks later, prompting nationwide mourning in Argentina.

Image source: Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona died of a heart attack on November 25, 2020, at age 60. Argentina declared three days of national mourning, and millions lined the streets of Buenos Aires for his funeral procession, honoring the man many consider the greatest footballer of all time.