The deceased head coach of the Gimnasia and Esgrima club, Argentinean Diego Maradona, was an outstanding football player and athlete. Soviet and Russian coach Valery Nepomnyashchy announced this to REN TV on Wednesday, November 25.
“Tragic news has come. For me, Maradona is one of the outstanding brilliant football players. I put it on a par with [бразильским футболистом] Pele, ”said the coach.
He noted that he personally saw not only saw the game of the Argentinean, his team played against him at the World Cup-90.
“I understand his level, his status in the history of world football. We have lost a genius, ”said the sports functionary.
Nepomniachtchi expressed his condolences to the Maradona family and “all football fans.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the death of Maradona was reported by the media. He died at the age of 60 in a home in the San Andres neighborhood of a heart attack.
Argentine Football Association, represented by President Claudio Tapia, has confirmed the reports of Maradona’s death. “You will always be in our hearts,” the organization notes.
In connection with the death of a football player, a three-day mourning has been declared in Argentina.
In early November, the former athlete underwent brain surgery after the development of a subdural hematoma, which was revealed during the tomography. A blow to the head could have caused the hemorrhage.
The operation took place in a clinic in the city of Olivos and lasted 1.5 hours, the result was successful.
Maradona’s personal physician Leopoldo Luque noted that hospitalization was not urgent.