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Diego MARADONA | 1986-1989

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Ajacied_Breda1 Name: Diego Armando Maradona

Club: SSC Napoli

Number: 10

Position: *SS, AMF

Nationality: Argentine

Age: 25-28 (30/10/1960)

Era: 1986/1989

Foot: L

Side: B

Height: 165 cm

Weight: 70 kg

Attack: 85

Defence: 42

Balance: 86

Stamina: 84

Top Speed: 88

Acceleration: 95

Response: 88

Agility: 97

Dribble Accuracy: 99

Dribble Speed: 97

Short Pass Accuracy: 94

Short Pass Speed: 84

Long Pass Accuracy: 93

Long Pass Speed: 85

Shot Accuracy: 86

Shot Power: 84

Shot Technique: 93

Free Kick Accuracy: 95

Curling: 96

Header: 74

Jump: 83

Technique: 99

Aggression: 88

Mentality/Tenacity: 80

Goalkeeper Skills: 50

Team Work: 80

Injury Tolerance: B

Form/Condition/Fitness: 7

Weak Foot Accuracy: 4

Weak Foot Frequency: 2

Consistency: 7

Growth type: Early/Lasting

CARDS:

P05: Trickster

P07: Mazing Run

P20: Talisman

S02: Passer

S03: 1-on-1 Finish

S04: PK Taker

S05: 1-touch Play

S06: Outside Curve

S14: Quick Turn

S15: Marseille Roulette

S20: Scooping

SPECIAL ABILITIES:

*Dribbling

*Tactical Dribble

*Reaction

*Playmaking

*Passing

*1-1 Scoring

*Penalties

*1-Touch Pass

*Outside

Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Attack Minded

INFO:

Diego Armando Maradona is regarded by many as the greatest player in the history of the game. He was a complete master of the ball who used his talent and flair and incredible speed. He could beat defenders, he could

score, he could distribute the ball... His versatile skills made him unpredictable and very dangerous. Maradona had a compact physique and could withstand physical pressure well. His strong legs and low center of gravity

gave him an advantage in short sprints. His physical strengths were illustrated by his two goals against Belgium in the 1986 World Cup. Maradona was a strategist , as well as highly technical with the ball. He could manage

himself effectively in limited spaces, and would attract defenders only to quickly dash out of the melee (as in the second 1986 goal against England), or give an assist to a free teammate. Being short, but strong, he could

hold the ball long enough with a defender on his back to wait for a teammate making a run or to find a gap for a quick shot.

One of Maradona's trademark moves was dribbling full-speed on the left wing, and on reaching the opponent's goal line, delivering lethally accurate passes to his teammates. Another trademark was the Rabona, a reverse- cross pass shot behind the leg that holds all the weight. This maneuver led to several assists, such as the powerful cross for Ramón Díaz's header in the 1980 friendly against Switzerland. He was also a dangerous free kick

taker.

He was born on October 30th 1960 in Lanus outside Buenos Aires. There he played for Los Cebollitos (The little onions), before he joined Argentinos Juniors. At 16 he was Argentina's youngest-ever international when he

played against Hungary. Two years later he captained the World Youth Cup winners and was soon transferred to Boca Juniors for £1.000.000. The success continued and he was voted South American Player Of The Year in

1979 and 1980.

In 1982 Maradona joined Spanish giants Barcelona for a world record transfer fee of £5.000.000. The same year the World Cup was held in Spain and Maradona made his World Cup debut on his new homeground Estadio

Nou Camp. The tournament didn't end as Maradona had hoped and he was sent off against Brazil in the second phase, as Argentina bowed out.

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In his first season for "Barca" he helped them win the league, leaguecup and the Super Cup. Two years later, another world record fee of £6.900.000 took him to success-starved Napoli, and in 1987 they won a league and

cup double. A year earlier he had captained Argentina to a second World Cup triumph. It was a World Cup that forever will be synonymous with Maradona. He scored 5 goals in that tournament, including two against

England. Both are among the most controversal in World Cup history. The first was the infamous "Hand of God" and the second probably the greatest goal ever scored in a World Cup game, as he ran from his own half

showing magic displays and leaving seven English players for dead.

Success continued with Napoli as he again steered them to a leaguetitle and in 1989 even a triumph in the UEFA cup. In 1990 the World Cup was held in Italy and Maradona captained Argentina to yet another final. The

Germans were once again the opponents and this time they proved too strong for the Argentinians. That loss was to be the beginning of the end for Maradona. Two drug scandals have created black spots on his name and

reputation. Several come-backs have been tried since 1991 and after helping Argentina qualifying for the 1994 World Cup in USA, Maradona looked fit for fight again. A marvellous goal against Greece in the first match

gave proves for that.

But in the next game against Nigeria he was caught for drug abuse, and the World Cup story of Diego Armando Maradona got a sad ending. That match meant that Maradona equalled the record of matches played in the

World Cup of 21, held by Uwe Seeler and Wladislav Zmuda (Later beaten by Lothar Matthäus). Maradona retired from international football after that with a gallery of good and bad memories. But he is by neutral football

lovers regarded alongside Pelé as the greatest player of them all.

HONOURS:

Club

Boca Juniors

Primera División: 1981

Barcelona

Copa del Rey: 1983

Copa de la Liga: 1983

Spanish Super Cup: 1983

Napoli

Serie A: 1987, 1990

Coppa Italia: 1987

UEFA Cup: 1989

Italian Super Cup: 1990

Country

FIFA World Youth Championship: 1979

FIFA World Cup 1986

Artemio Franchi Trophy: 1993

75th anniversary FIFA Cup: 1979

Individual

Golden Ball for Best Player of the FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1979

Argentine league Top Scorer: 1979, 1980, 1981

Argentine Football Writers' Footballer of the Year: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1986

South American Footballer of the Year (El Mundo, Caracas):1979, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992

Italian Guerin d'Oro: 1985

Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Year: 1986

Golden Ball for Best Player of the FIFA World Cup: 1986

Best Footballer in the World Onze d'Or: 1986, 1987

World Player of the Year (World Soccer Magazine): 1986

Capocannoniere (Serie A top scorer): 1987-88

Golden Ball for services to football (France Football): 1996

Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Century: 1999

"FIFA best football player of the century", people's choice: 2000

"FIFA Goal of the Century" (1986 (2–1) v. England; second goal): 2002

Argentine Senate "Domingo Faustino Sarmiento" recognition for lifetime achievement: 2005

VIDEOS:

*Dribbling*

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*Passing*

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*Free Kicks*

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*Goals*