Football legend Diego Maradona has ‘thanked’ Napoli for winning the Serie A title 33 years after leading them to victory.
Maradona, who died aged 60 in November 2020, is still adored in Naples for inspiring the club to the Scudetto in 1987 and 1990.
After a long and often agonizing wait, Napoli’s current crop of players finally won the championship again, leading to wild celebrations in the city on Thursday night.
They sealed the title with a 1–1 draw at Udinese, with their leading goalscorer Victor Osimhen scoring the second-half equalizer to see them cross the line with five games remaining.
The official Maradona Instagram account posted an eye-catching image showing Napoli’s celebrated No. 10 climbing a set of blue stairs bearing the names of the current squad.
Diego Maradona’s official Instagram account posted this striking image after Napoli ended a 33-year wait to win the Italian championship on Thursday night
Maradona helped undesired Napoli to Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990, with another Instagram post comparing the city’s street parties then and now
Argentine star Maradona remains an icon in Naples after inspiring the club to two league titles in 1987 and 1990
The post read: ‘A new date to remember, a new joy for the city, for the people, for history. Thanks to all of you! Come on Naples.’
An earlier post compared the Naples street parties of 1987 and 2023 and said, “Yesterday and today. Same city, same happiness.’
Thousands of cheering Napoli fans poured into the city streets after the draw in Udine secured the championship on Thursday night.
They lit flares and fireworks well into the night in a party that was 33 years in the making. Maradona played for the club between 1984 and 1991, scoring 115 goals in 259 games.
That successful spell saw the club win the league twice, as well as the Coppa Italia in 1986-87 and the UEFA Cup in 1988-89.
As emotions overflowed, more than 200 people were injured during the celebrations with a 26-year-old man shot dead in an incident police said was ‘completely disconnected’.
Vincenzo Constanzo was a member of the D’Amico crime family involved in a bitter feud with another clan.
Victor Osimhen scored the crucial goal as a 1-1 draw against Udinese sealed Napoli’s title
That led to an entire night of partying in Naples with fireworks
Maradona’s image remains prominent throughout the city, where he continues to be worshiped
The image of the Argentinian on a flag in the stadium named after him on Thursday evening
Naples police chief Claudio Palomba said at least seven bullets had been fired and all indications were that it was a hit as part of gang violence between members of the Camorra, the city’s organized crime group.
Costanzo was found bleeding heavily on the ground along with three others, including his girlfriend, and all were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Doctors fought to save Costanzo, but he was pronounced dead while the others were treated for minor injuries and expected to be released from the hospital in a few days.
Later, the medical authorities in Naples released an updated report stating that an astonishing 203 people across the city had been treated after winning the title.
Napoli fans celebrate after winning the Serie A championship at Diego Armando Maradona’s mural on Thursday in Naples, Italy
There were chaotic scenes in Naples last night, with Napoli fans driving around the stadium in open cars
A Napoli fan is overcome with emotion after his team win their first Scudetto in 33 years
More than 200 required medical treatment amid chaotic scenes of fireworks and flares
Celebrations erupted in Naples after the Napoli football team won the Scudetto trophy
Thousands of Napoli fans took to the streets of Naples after their team won the Serie A title after 33 years
Officials said 22 were in serious condition with burns, head injuries and broken bones after being hit by fireworks or falling from scooters and cars.
The injured included three police officers who were attacked as they tried to advance the crowd, but were not seriously injured.
Thousands poured into Naples’ main square at Piazza Plebiscito waving flags and banners, and many climbed lampposts and balconies in exuberance.
Sixty thousand fans had packed into the sold-out Diego Maradona stadium to watch the match live on giant screens as it was beamed back from Udine, 500 miles away.
Napoli fans celebrate winning Serie A in Naples on Thursday evening
Napoli fans drove around in topless cars as they celebrated their team’s victory
Fans poured into the streets of Naples as the club’s long wait to win the Scudetto came to an end
Naples erupted in celebration after the soccer team won their first Scudetto in 33 years