Is footballer Diego Maradona still known and admired in the Balkans ?

Posted by SystemJumpy2535@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 33 comments

Found out there´s a pizzeria in Athens called "Armando", which is basically all about him, and is run by young-ish people. So that made me curious, do people still know him in other balkan countries ? for anyone who does not know him, Diego Maradona's life was a blend of unparalleled footballing brilliance and a turbulent personal life, making him a complex yet revered figure in the history of the sport.

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gutag@reddit

Yes. Mostly because of cocaine.

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SystemJumpy2535@reddit (OP)

Thats probably the least interesting thing about him. He talked about how much cocaine ruined his life multiple times.

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SE_prof@reddit

And you chose to show the game that he was definitely coked up in...

gif

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SystemJumpy2535@reddit (OP)

He was found to only have Ephedrine in his blood. You can see him going to take the test holding the hand of FIFA´s nurse, while smiling and waving to fans. He had prepared for this World cup like a maniac, got himself back in shape in months. He was called to basically put Argentina into the world cup, after terrible qualifiers.

There is no way he would have jeopardize that world cup like that. He was an addict, but the national team was his life. He had been always clean for that. So you are wrong.

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SE_prof@reddit

Epinephrine and four other substances... He failed the control against Nigeria and was banned immediately before Bulgaria...

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SystemJumpy2535@reddit (OP)

I chose the game he was playing against Greece.

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gutag@reddit

But we only care about that fact. Especially when you see a bar named after him. They are everywhere in the Balkans and its nothing related to football.

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Amazing-Basket-6818@reddit

The elder population mostly consider him the goat.

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SystemJumpy2535@reddit (OP)

Elder ? someone who is just 40 could have seen him play in real life, so not just super old people.

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SystemJumpy2535@reddit (OP)

Who is "we" ? the pizzeria in Athens is in no way related to his drug use, and everything to do with his football talent.

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lukajeluka@reddit

Maradona is code name for cocaine in some circles.

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lukajeluka@reddit

Maradona is code name for cocaine in some circles.

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x_SC_ILIAS_x@reddit

😆

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lukajeluka@reddit

Everyone know about D10S. What is matter with you?

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SystemJumpy2535@reddit (OP)

I literally flew to Argentina to attend his funeral, during the fucking pandemic. I know how much he means to people because he means that much to me too. It was just a valid question.

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wisdomHungry@reddit

He liked to play high on the pitch. Scored amazing goals, excellent ball control, he could get past anybody. A star in Napoli winning titlez for them.

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SystemJumpy2535@reddit (OP)

What do you mean "high" ? cause he publicly stated that cocaine made him played his worst games and that his best was when he was sober.

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kikosaug@reddit

There's another Diego maradona themed pizzeria in Athens called Dieguito.

So at least two

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SystemJumpy2535@reddit (OP)

Wow really ? where at, like which part of town

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Dizzy_Arachnid4292@reddit

HE WAS A PROUD CROATTIAN 🇵🇾🇵🇾🇵🇾🇵🇾💪💪💪💪💪🇵🇾🇵🇾🇵🇾

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Ok_Tomatillo_3811@reddit

Maradona serbian confirmed🫡

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Dizzy_Arachnid4292@reddit

Pelé was BOSSnian 🇹🇰🇹🇰🇹🇰(from Pelagićevo ) ☝️☝️☝️🇹🇰🇹🇰🇹🇰😎😎😎

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nikolapc@reddit

How can you not. A true balkaner. Would have been at home in any kafana. We're not dominating the world at football cause 1. Yugoslavia fell apart, 2. Almost every hopeful finds out about Kafana. Djokovic is lucky he married a nag that doesn't let him go to Kafana, and Jokic is lucky he only likes Burek.

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CataphractBunny@reddit

Of course. Maradona is the greatest.

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AogamiBunka@reddit

There is a documentary called 'Maradona by Kusturica' made in Serbia.

For a long time, Hagi was called the "Maradona of the Carpathians”.

During a golf tournament, a Bulgarian colleague explained to me how, "We fucked England and the west" because a Bulgarian allowed "The Hand of God" to happen.

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Nikillachinchilla@reddit

My dad still thinks he plays lmfao... He's got MCI

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GoodZealousideal5922@reddit

He is. Two of our best strikers this past decade: Armando Sadiku and Armando Broja, have both been named after him.

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SystemJumpy2535@reddit (OP)

didn't know that ! thats cool.

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