The Fall of Diego Maradona | Part One

Welcome to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. This week Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper bring a two-part special focussing on the decline of one of the greatest footballers ever, Diego Maradona.

In part one, our co-hosts talk about Maradona's struggles with drug addiction, failed drug tests, and his eventual 15-month ban from football after a positive cocaine test in 1991. Despite these challenges, Maradona's impact on both the Napoli and Argentina national teams remained significant. Discover the infamous 5-0 defeat of Argentina by Colombia in 1993 and explore why the nation clamoured for Maradona's return to save their 1994 World Cup hopes. The episode provides a comprehensive look at Maradona's turbulent years leading up to his attempts at making a comeback.

Join us on Friday for Part Two.

00:00 Introduction and Context
00:30 The Decline of Diego Maradona
02:01 The Infamous Argentina vs. Colombia Match
04:57 The Fallout and National Disgrace
10:48 Maradona's Cultural Significance
16:04 Maradona's Turbulent Life in Naples
23:51 Maradona's Decline and Struggles with Fitness
25:19 Cocaine Scandal and Legal Troubles
26:53 The Fake Penis Incident and Drug Test
30:53 Maradona's Radical Detox and Support System
34:17 Political Context and Maradona's Popularity
39:52 Return to Football and Move to Sevilla
44:04 Struggles in Sevilla and Final Decline
47:52 Personal Breakdown and Return to Roots
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