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With Loss of Diego Maradona a Piece of Childhood Slips Away

By Aaron Coe

Jun 30, 2018; Kazan, Russia; Diego Maradona in attendance in the round of 16 during the FIFA World Cup 2018 between France and Argentina at Kazan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Groothuis/Witters Sport via USA TODAY Sports
Jun 30, 2018; Kazan, Russia; Diego Maradona in attendance in the round of 16 during the FIFA World Cup 2018 between France and Argentina at Kazan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Groothuis/Witters Sport via USA TODAY Sports /
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With the passing of Diego Maradona yesterday the world lost a footballing star, who played one game in Lilywhite for Tottenham but meant so much to so many.

As a 40 something football fan, the 1986 World Cup is one of my first real memories of the beautiful game. As a young child in the states, I did not necessarily fully grasp what I was watching quite yet, but knew it was special. Now all these years later, with the loss of Maradona I finally realize what I was witnessing and what the world has lost.

Diego Made the Game Real

Growing up in the 1980s in the United States, being a fan of and playing soccer was not exactly the national pastime. The United States still struggles today to get some of the best, most promising athletes to try and play the game and it was even harder many years ago. While we had football stars and basketball heroes, there was no one who had the same mark in the US on soccer. No one until Diego Maradona.

I will always be a Magic Johnson fan from the showtime Lakers as a kid, and I will always remember John Riggins – the Diesel – following the “Hogs” to Super Bowl glory for the then Washington Redskins. I will also always remember Diego Maradona making mazy dribbling runs, scoring goals, and just being outrageous. One thing all three of these men had in common was an outsized personality and an outsized heart both of which contributed to their greatness.

For me, Maradona made me a fan of Argentina and forced you try to find ways to learn about what was happening in Italian football. Nearly impossible in the US at the time, but you had to try to scour the newspaper for a box score and just a glimpse of his name. Because of Maradona I continued to follow the Argentine team for a few years and even played with a show lace in my hair like Gabriel Batistuta used to do. He was the reason you might want to be a bad boy from time to time and he helped me grow my love of the game, for that, all I can say is thank you Diego. Tottenham fans in England might have a different memory though.

One Magical Night at the Lane

In 1986 Maradona’s international teammate and friend Ossie Ardiles – the longtime Tottenham star – was having his testimonial game at White Hart Lane and asked his teammate to come. Maradona came fresh off the back of an Argentine national match, without shoes, but ready to play. So, focused on football once it started, Maradona said afterword the only thing that mattered was winning the match.

For that one evening against Inter, Tottenham had a four-man midfield half English with Chris Waddle and Glenn Hoddle and half Argentine with Ossie Ardiles and Maradona. Clive Allen scored the winner that night in the boots Maradona did not borrow and for a moment England loved the Argentine.

Of course, later in the summer down in Mexico, some divine intervention may have changed how England felt about the South American Superstar, but for a young boy in the states, he became a living legend almost overnight. For those that were at the Lane or saw the game, remember that moment, for others like me, remember that day in Mexico, regardless of who you are remember something of Diego Maradona because the world is a little less bright today with his loss and the game is a little less beautiful.