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Some thoughts on Maradona and the impact he had on me...
Begins when I’m young. Football wasn’t available 24/7 so what you see, you really watch. This man is unbelievable. Different. Lifts Argentina to World Cup glory on a team that nobody could name another player.
Begins when I’m young. Football wasn’t available 24/7 so what you see, you really watch. This man is unbelievable. Different. Lifts Argentina to World Cup glory on a team that nobody could name another player.
By the time Italia 90 comes around, I’m glued to the TV. His ‘Life is Life’ warmup is famous but for me I was mesmerized by the shoulder juggling before the first game v Cameroon. More hours in the back yard trying something I’ve never seen.
As he keeps making the news, more clips start to emerge, mostly from training. It wasn’t just how he beat defenders, it’s the way he explored the ball... spins, bounces, different surfaces... mastery but always a smile. There’s another message there. Put the hours in. Enjoy it.
When World Cup 94 rolls around, he’s the only one I’m watching. The goal versus Greece in the 1st game and the celebration. Yes! Another World Cup victory coming. But after he’s sent home early with a ban, it’s the sadness that his career is probably over.
Now we only see brief clips of him as he returns to Boca. The free kick against Chilavert and then running over to him to congratulate the keeper afterwards. Look at the spin on the ball in the replay. Wow. Try that at home. No chance but hours and hours spent trying.
I’m still enthralled by him. Instead of watching games it’s now documentaries and books that come out. I read and watch every one I can. They start to tell the story behind the player and it becomes even more fascinating. His tough childhood and the ups and downs of his life.
Fame is often misunderstood. It looks like people love it, but that pressure that goes with it... No way. Napoli story alone is crazy. Michael Jordan said the only place he could get a break was the 2 hours of a game. Maradona couldn’t even do the coin toss before it started.
Gary Lineker goes to visit him in his home in 2005. It’s one of the best documentaries I’ve seen. He loves the time with his family & is humble with his success. It’s my 1st insight into how he thinks about the game and how he experiences it... there’s depth to it.
With Maradona’s history, it’s often viewed that he was missing the mental piece of his game. Similar to Best/Gascogne, “if they had of had the right mentality they’d be up there” people will say. But look and listen and there’s some gold there too.
There’s an interview with Jorge Valdano who said that after his second goal against England in 86, Maradona explained why he didn’t pass him the ball across to him and opted to go around Shilton instead.
Maradona told him that he had a similar effort vs England at Wembley in 1980 and he shot early & wide. He recalled this at the same moment and chose to go around Shilton instead.
Valdano said that’s when he knew he was a genius.
Valdano said that’s when he knew he was a genius.
I’ve watched the second goal against England hundreds of times over the years With the pitch the way it was, the speed at which he’s running, and the pressure he’s under, I don’t see how he can lift his head and process that. https://twitter.com/nigel__dsouza/status/1331647193149698049?s=21
The ability to think quickly and force others to do the same basically broke one on the strongest defensive leagues in the world, in one of the most defensive eras in the history of the game.
Creativity at that level involves so much courage and strength. As humans we have a tendency to put limits on what we can achieve... but Maradona never did. Before sport psychology and support systems were there, he had this unique approach to that side of the game.
The Netflix series showed a man who was still in love with the game, but also his idea on how it should be played. “If you lose it 14 times I still want you to look for it.” Courage and bravery. Players who were too young to have remembered him were hanging on his every word.
Only recently Pochettino was asked about what made him so special and he referred to his character. The charisma and energy were on a different level, he explained. “You could smell it”
I’ve never met Diego Maradona but he will always fascinate me. The young boy who was brave enough to tell the world his goals, the player who beat teams on his own, the dramatic ups and downs of his life that he shared with the world, and the passion he always had for this game.
Thank you Diego Armando Maradona.
