Napoli complete venue rename to Diego Armando Maradona Stadium

Argentine legend, who died last week, led the Italian club to their only Serie A titles during seven years in Naples

A girl looks at the memorabilia placed outside the San Paolo stadium in Naples in memory of Diego Maradona. AP

A man and child outside the Stadio San Paolo in Naples as a Diego Maradona flag is waved in tribute to the Argentine football legend following his death. Reuters

A heart-shaped placard reading "Maradona, thanks God" is pictured the day after the death of Diego Maradona, in Naples. Reuters

People gather on the streets of Naples to mourn the death of Diego Maradona. Reuters

Men dressed in Napoli shirts carry drums and mourn the death if Diego Maradona. Reuters

A mural depicting Diego Maradona in Naples. Reuters

A man wearing a protective face mask stands in front of a mural depicting Diego Maradona, as people gather to mourn his death in Naples. Reuters

A person waves a Diego Maradona flag outside the Stadio San Paolo in Naples. Reuters

People gather in Naples to mourn the death of Diego Maradona. Reuters

People wave Diego Maradona flags outside the Stadio San Paolo in Naples. Reuters

People gather beneath a giant mural of Diego Maradona in Naples. Reuters

A giant mural of soccer legend Diego Maradona, right, is seen on the side of a building next to another giant mural of a street kid called Niccolò in Naples. AP

A banner reading 'You represent the city that will never forget you' has been placed in front of the Maschio Angioino castle to pay tribute to Diego Maradona. EPA

A man lights candles as fans gather outside the San Paolo stadium to commemorate Diego Maradona. AP Photo

A girl wearing a Diego Maradona shirt is seen outside the Stadio San Paolo in Naples. Reuters

A sign reads "Thank you god, teach the angels how to play football, farewell legend" is seen on the gates of the San Paolo stadium in Naples. AP Photo

Napoli have officially renamed their stadium the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in honour of the Argentine legend who led the Italian club to their only two Serie A titles and the UEFA Cup, the city's council said on Friday.

Maradona died last week after suffering a heart attack at his home in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, less than a month after his 60th birthday.

The death of one of football's greatest ever players led to an outpouring of tributes, including in Naples where thousands of people took to the streets and placed flowers and memorabilia outside the Napoli stadium.

The city council approved the resolution proposed by Naples mayor Luigi de Magistris to change the stadium's name from Sao Paolo Stadium to honour the World Cup-winning great who scored 115 goals in seven years at the club.

"I've been in talks with local authorities for the past 17 years, I've always asked to buy the stadium and rename it 'Diego Armando Maradona'," Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis told Sky in Italy.

"If then, for tradition, we will need to call it both 'San Paolo' and 'Maradona' so be it. It won't change much, but it's only right that Maradona has this recognition. Even if we were to build a whole new stadium, I would name it like that.

"Your years here remain indelible in the memories of the people of Naples - symbolic of a coveted redemption and yearned-for resurrection."

Maradona signed for Napoli in 1984 and helped the club conquer the northern teams such as Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan – seen as the aristocratic establishment of Italian football, and briefly turned Serie A on its head.