People look memorabilia outside the San Paolo stadium commemorating soccer legend Diego Maradona, in Naples, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Maradona died on Wednesday at the age of 60 of a heart attack in a house outside Buenos Aires where he recovered from a brain operation. (AP Photo/Salvatore Laporta)
The Associated Press
Leave it to Diego Maradona to draw fans to a stadium they couldn't enter.
Thousands of Napoli supporters made a pilgrimage to the San Paolo stadium Thursday to light a candle, leave a scarf or a shirt and shed some tears in memory of their hero.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, fans were not permitted inside to see Napoli's 2-0 win over Croatian side Rijeka in the Europa League.
Instead, Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne exited the stadium and joined the fans for a few minutes to lay a bouquet of flowers next to the supporters' tributes.
The entire city was declared in mourning for the soccer great, who died Wednesday of a heart attack at age 60, two weeks after being released from a hospital in Buenos Aires following brain surgery.
Maradona led Napoli to its only two Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990 and is considered a god-like figure in the southern city.
'œHe always defended us, both when he played here and after he left,'ť said Insigne, who is from Naples. 'œHe always carried us in his heart. And now we need to carry him in our hearts since he's gone. It hurts. It's a sad day for us Neapolitans."
'œThe entire squad and club lends its support to the family,'ť Insigne added. 'œHe was the greatest player ever and we're honored that he wore Napoli's shirt and played in this stadium.'ť
Naples Mayor Luigi De Magistris announced earlier that he has begun the formal process to rename San Paolo the Diego Armando Maradona stadium.
In the meantime, an image of Maradona graced the big screens inside the stadium during the game against Rijeka.
All of Napoli's players went out onto the pitch wearing shirts with Maradona's No. 10 and his name on the back, before changing into their own numbers before kickoff. Napoli coach Gennaro Gattuso also put on a Maradona shirt.
Both teams wore black armbands and stood for a minute of silence at the center circle before the game started. Napoli's players interlocked their arms.
Napoli sports director Cristiano Giuntoli said, 'œWe're all shocked and hurt.'ť
Napoli won with an own goal from Armando Anastasio before the break and a second-half score from Hirving Lozano.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
___
Andrew Dampf is at https://twitter.com/AndrewDampf
A couple embraces in front of a banner remembering soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona "the king" hanging from the San Paolo stadium in Naples, Italy, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Maradona died Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020 in Buenos Aires. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
The Associated Press
Banners and pictures in memory of Diego Armando Maradona who died yesterday, are shown on the screen before the Napoli against Rijeka group F soccer match of the Europa League, at the San Paolo stadium in Naples, Italy, Thursday Nov. 26, 2020. Alessandro Garofalo /LaPresse via AP)
The Associated Press
People look memorabilia outside the San Paolo stadium commemorating soccer legend Diego Maradona, in Naples, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Maradona died on Wednesday at the age of 60 of a heart attack in a house outside Buenos Aires where he recovered from a brain operation. (AP Photo/Salvatore Laporta)
The Associated Press
A fan waves a flag with the portrait of soccer legend Diego Armando Maradonain front of the San Paolo stadium in Naples, Italy, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Maradona died Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020 in Buenos Aires. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
The Associated Press
People look at memorabilia outside the San Paolo stadium commemorating soccer legend Diego Maradona, in Naples, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Maradona died on Wednesday at the age of 60 of a heart attack in a house outside Buenos Aires where he recovered from a brain operation. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The Associated Press
Matteo Politano of Napoli celebrates after scoring the first goal of the game against Rijeka, during their group F soccer match of the Europa League, at the San Paolo stadium in Naples, Italy, Thursday Nov. 26, 2020. (Alessandro Garofalo /LaPresse via AP)
The Associated Press
People gather and light candles to honor soccer legend Diego Maradona, at the popular "Quartieri Spagnoli" neighborhood, in Naples, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Maradona died on Wednesday at the age of 60 of a heart attack in a house outside Buenos Aires where he recovered from a brain operation. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The Associated Press
Banners and pictures in memory of Diego Armando Maradona who died yesterday, are shown on the screen before the Napoli against Rijeka group F soccer match of the Europa League, at the San Paolo stadium in Naples, Italy, Thursday Nov. 26, 2020. Alessandro Garofalo /LaPresse via AP)
The Associated Press