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Napoli renames stadium in honor of Maradona

NAPLES, Italy (AP) - Italian club Napoli renamed its stadium in honor of former captain Diego Maradona on Friday.

The Naples city council unanimously approved the change of name from Stadio San Paolo to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

'œNapoli is delighted about today's decision,'ť the club said in a brief online statement.

Maradona died last week aged 60 in his native Argentina. Fans gathered in their thousands at Napoli's stadium to mourn him, leaving candles, flowers, pictures and notes.

In a seven-year stint at Napoli from 1984-91, Maradona led the club to its only Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990, the Italian Cup in 1987, and its only major European title, the UEFA Cup, in 1989.

The day after his death, Maradona was honored by Napoli at its Europa League match against HNK Rijeka when every player wore a shirt inscribed with 'Maradona 10.'

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A banner reading in Italian "Heart...Naples swears to you eternal love" to honor Diego Maradona is displayed in the stands prior to the Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Roma, at the Naples San Paolo Stadium Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press
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