© EuroFootball.com
Difficulties experienced by one of the best football players of all time, Diego Maradona, after his retirement from the great sport overshadowed those he experienced on the field. His miraculous skills as a player and determination inspired entire Argentina and led clubs to the pinnacle of glory.
In 1997, Diego retired from playing football. Since then, he had to seek treatment for drug addiction. Last April, he suffered a severe heart attack, had difficulty breathing, and contracted pneumonia.
Last week, the player traveled to Greece, where he met with leaders and fans and as a guest participated in club-organized events. We present to your attention an interview given by this Argentine football star in Greece to Uefa.com, in which he talks about his current life, present football, and his football career.
Uefa.com: What is your current health condition?
Diego Maradona: I feel great. I exercise and swim every day. My respiratory system is working perfectly, although I would like to lose a few pounds! I would like to thank everyone who prayed for me and thought of me when I was ill.
Uefa.com: Who is your favorite current player?
Maradona: Wayne Rooney is an extraordinary talent, and he has achieved a lot already. He can become as famous as Bobby Charlton and help England win the World Cup gold. However, to do that, he has to fully concentrate on football - if he does, he will have almost limitless opportunities. It may be difficult because players nowadays face more pressure than in my time.
Uefa.com: Over the past years, playing for Real and the England national team, David Beckham faced a lot of criticism. What do you think about this?
Maradona: Beckham is the best right-back in the world - he plays wonderfully with the ball, has a good sense of smell, and works hard within the team. However, in Madrid, he had to play in midfield. And the time he spent on advertising seemed to have influenced his career. The problem is that Madrid is full of stars. It is best to have 6 or 7 really hard-working guys and a few stars. That's exactly what Argentina had in 1986.
Uefa.com: Do you still want to continue your career in football?
Maradona: I was born to be in football, I will live in football, I will die in football. I would love to be a coach, but then my name will be dragged down by me. Most people can say that I am unqualified, and I will have to prove my worth on the field. I would be very honored if someone invited me to be a coach in the future.
Uefa.com: Will you attend the 2006 World Cup?
Maradona: I certainly hope that next year I will be in Germany. I think Argentina will be among the favorites. And not just because it's my team. They won in the Olympics, they have many talented young players. However, European teams do well in those tournaments held in Europe. Now England has a team that can win. They have a lot of talent and are generally a strong national team.
Uefa.com: You are well-known for your infamous "Hand of God" goal in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal against England. Do you think that was dishonorable?
Maradona: I don't think that I was dishonorable at any point in my career. Every forward tries to achieve their goal, which is to score a goal. Throughout my career, I played against many defenders who tried to break my legs. And they broke them. That's dishonorable."
