A Dream
Fulfiiled

By 1981 Maradona had become the most-wanted footballer in Argentinian domestic football. He had enjoyed great success at Argentinos Juniors and consistently headed the scoring records each season without winning anything. It was only a matter of time before the country’s two biggest clubs came in for him and, like their own rivalry over many years, it became an intense fight to secure the signature of Diego.
In one corner was River Plate. In the other, Boca Juniors.

On the face of it River Plate, great rivals with Boca Juniors because both clubs were formed in the La Boca district of Buenos Aires, held most of the aces. They were in much better financial shape and offered to make Maradona, the little kid from the slums of the capital’s south, their best-paid player, even over established internationals featuring in the team.

But Maradona had always dreamed of playing for one team when he was hiding his football up his shirt and playing tricks with it in front of half-time audiences. That team was Boca Juniors, very much the working-class team of La Boca, as opposed to the traditionally higher-class River Plate. That was entirely in keeping, of course, with Maradona’s outlook. He would never forget where he came from, nor be anything else but generous to his family and friends as his wealth began to grow.

Boca paid Argentinos Juniors the not inconsiderable amount of $4 million for Maradona’s services in February, 1981. Maradona began to repay them immediately, scoring twice on his debut – against Talleres du Córdoba again – as he wore the famous blue and yellow shirt. He helped his new team to a 4-1 victory in front of a bouncing home crowd inside the famous ‘Bombonera’ Stadium.

In April of that year he played in his first ‘Superclasico’, a 3-0 home win over River Plate. Maradona scored one of the goals, dribbling past the celebrated Alberto Tarantini, a key member of the 1978 World Cup-winning Argentinian national team, in the process. From this point onwards the young man became a firm favourite with the Boca fans.

This was not the case with the manager, however, the former Boca player Silvio Marzolini. The pair had an uneasy, distrustful relationship for the one season Maradona stayed at the club, but it did not prevent him from being the most influential player in what proved to be a triumphant season. Boca Juniors would win their first title, the ‘Metropolitano’, in five years, securing the trophy with a 1-1 draw against Racing in the 17th round. In doing so they won 20 games, drew 10 and lost just four.

It would prove to be Maradona’s first and last title won playing in Argentinian domestic football. In one season he had played in 40 games and scored 28 goals, as well as many more assists.

Such was his hero status to both the fans of Boca Juniors and the working classes in general in Argentina that even leaving the famous club after one season to take up a new challenge at Barcelona was met with sadness but not criticism.

And when he returned for a final hurrah as a player, featuring 30 times in two years between 1995 and 1997, it was as if the local king had come back to his rightful throne. Although he would never manage Boca, Maradona would in later life become a familiar, passionate figure at La Bombonera, singing and chanting songs and remaining very much one of the people.

“The whole family supported Boca. It’s a passion that you cannot explain.”

DIEGO MARADONA

Maradona on his debut for Boca Juniors against Talleres de Córdoba, a 4-1 victory that included two debut goals.

Maradona in action in June 1981.

Controlling the ball against Instituto de Córdoba on 1 March, 1981, a 2-2 draw in which Maradona scored both of Boca’s goals.

“Technically, the most complete player in the history of the game.”

JORGE VALDANO

Maradona in an exhibition game against Paris Saint-Germain on 5 September, 1981

Covered in mud during a match against Racing Club on 14 May, 1981.

Scoring in his first Superclasico, a 3-0 victory over River Plate at the Bombonera stadium on 10 April, 1981

Maradona leaves an opponent in his wake in June 1981.

“Even if I played for a million years, I’d never come close to Maradona. Not that I’d want to anyway. He’s the greatest there’s ever been.”

LIONEL MESSI

Maradona and the River Plate captain Daniel Passarella before the Superclasico on 1 November, 1981.

Maradona (right) is hoisted onto the shoulders of the
celebrating supporters after Boca win the Metropolitano
championship on 16 August, 1981.

Maradona acknowledges the crowd at the Bombonera stadium.