This Tuesday was a very special day: 35 years of the Goal of the Century and the Hand of God were celebrated. There were tributes for Maradona for his great game in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico everywhere … Not only in Argentina, but also in Azteca and even in England! Tottenham’s Instagram account had a particular memory for Ten: he uploaded a photo of Maradó with the Spurs jacket!
Ardiles with Diego in 1986.
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“The Spurs jersey was the last of the clubs he wore before scoring one of the most wonderful goals in history. 35 years after that day, we remember him with our colors. Diego Armando #Maradona”, published the London club. The post, in addition to being written in Spanish, was in the middle of various Spurs publications referring to England’s match against the Czech Republic for the Euro.
But when did Diego play for Tottenham? Is it true that it was the last club-level jersey you wore before scoring the goal of the century? Yes, it is true … Although, of course, it was not officially since the Ten never played for a UK team. Maradona “signed” for Tottenham for a day and only played one game. It was to be present at a tribute to Osvaldo Ardiles, idol in White Hart Lane.
He played a friendly against Inter, before Mexico 1986.
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On May 1, 1986, just 32 days before the national team’s debut against South Korea in Mexico, Tottenham played Inter Milan in London. The meeting was to pay tribute to Ossie and Maradona, who was in the middle of a friendly tour with Bilardo’s team, made a space for himself to be present at his friend’s farewell …
The Spurs posting.
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“When we met Diego, he called me Señor Ardiles. A few days later he began to call me Narigón. He had a very special humor. You never knew how funny it was going to come out.”Ardiles recalled last year at AM 750.
Maradona with Ardiles in a Tottenham-Liverpool (EFE).
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“There won’t be any kind of problem. I felt at home. I wanted to win today alongside those who fight for their jersey every Sunday.”, Maradona said after the game when they asked him what would happen if an Argentina-England gave in the World Cup, with the Malvinas War so close …
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In London they still remember that game.
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That May 1st, Tottenham beat Inter 2-1 in old White Hart Lane. Diego played the 90 minutes and returned to join Bilardo’s squad, which three days later thrashed Israel 7-2 in a friendly that was played in Tel Aviv (Maradona scored two goals). For his part, Ardiles only played a few minutes in his farewell as he dragged a knee injury.
Maradona with the Tottenham jacket.
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In the tribute to Ossie, Maradona shared half the court with Glenn Hoddle and Chris Waddle, two Englishmen who 52 days later would witness the luxuries of the Goal of the Century and the Hand of God in the Azteca.
Much loved in Tottenham
Tottenham is the most Maradonian club that England has. In addition to that friendly in which he made the Spurs fans delirious, he visited the team that was led by Pochettino in 2017. Ten, with Ardiles as his chaperone and translator, went to the locker room and even gave Harry Kane a definition class! He also chatted with Hugo Lloris.
