Diego Maradona’s father Don Diego has passed away in Buenos Aires aged 87.
“I beg the people of Argentina to pray for my old man because he’s at death’s door,” Maradona pleaded on arriving back in the country at the beginning of the month. Don Diego had been in poor health for some time and was put into a medically induced coma in a Buenos Aires hospital, but eventually passed away due to coronary and respiratory complications.
The legendary Argentina number 10 has suffered another great loss after his mother, affectionately known as Doña Tota, died in 2001. The former national coach was very close to his parents.
In a film shot last year in Dubai, Maradona was deeply moved as he thanked both his parents for all they had done for him, having come from a humble background.
“As I feel proud of my mother, who went hungry every night so we could eat, I also feel proud of my father, who always took me to training despite all the hardship in the world. There were times he had to borrow money to pay for my bus journey to training. The life of a football player isn’t easy, what counts most is family,” Maradona said.
