Maradona awarded Naples honorary citizenship

Legendary footballer Diego Maradona was awarded honorary citizenship of the city of Naples by Mayor Luigi de Magistris in a ceremony at City Hall Wednesday evening.

The Argentine striker played for SSC Napoli from 1984 to 1991, taking the team to win their first-ever Serie A Italian Championship title in 1986-87. Napoli won their second Serie A title in 1989-90, finishing runners up in the league twice. Other honors during the Maradona era include the 1987 Coppa Italia, the 1989 UEFA Cup, and the Italian Supercup in 1990.

The honorary citizenship comes exactly 33 years after Maradona was first presented to world media as a Napoli player on July 5, 1984, when he was welcomed by tens of thousands of enthusiastic fans at the Stadio San Paolo stadium.

Awarding honorary citizenship to the Argentine champion is a "rightful recognition of the greatest footballer in the history of Napoli and of world football," the Naples city cabinet member for sport, Ciro Borriello, wrote in a statement.

A public celebration in the city's Piazza del Plebiscito square followed the citizenship ceremony at City Hall.