RETURN of the KING

At first just a small speck over the Tyrehnnian sea the plane carrying Diego Armando Maradona back to his adopted city drew ever closer towards Naples shores. But any worries that Maradona may have laboured regarding his welcome were soon to be dispelled on landing, for awaiting his imminent arrival at Naples Capodichino Airport were hundreds of Napoli tifosi crowded inside the terminal building desperate for a first glimpse of their 'Dieco'.

It had been a tumultuous twenty-one years since Maradona's original introduction by helicopter onto the San Paolo pitch where mass hysteria had greeted his dramatic arrival. Now amidst similar scenes of delirium Maradona found himself again mobbed by well-wishers. Despite a flood of security and police surrounding him the Argentinian was swiftly swallowed up in a mad sea of both over-enthusiastic media and Napoli supporters.

Bedlam reigned: Cameras flashed and blinded, a thousand voices screamed at once, people scuffled to grab a picture on their mobiles, reporters thrust microphones within inches of Maradona's face. Everybody wanted a piece of the stocky little figure with the huge wide grin, waving wildly and blowing kisses. As Neapolitans cried tears of joy, passing American backpackers gazed quizzically on at the unfolding madness. El Pibe De Oro was back!

From the airport Diego Maradona accompanied by his now ex-wife Claudia were whisked away with a huge Police escort to a supposed secret location, but this being Naples thousands already stood in wait outside the chosen hotel. Word had spread like wildfire across the bay and as Maradona's entourage entered the city outskirts the streets were already lined with people.

With sirens wailing and horns blasting for the locals to let them through it appeared an entire city had turned out to witness with their own eyes the legend that was Diego Armando Maradona. Once safely inside the hotel Maradona headed straight towards a first floor window from where he personally led the adoring crowds in a mass Neapolitan communal sing-along.

The classic terrace war songs were dusted down and given full justice by the older tifosi who had prayed for this day to come. Not just for the chance to say thank you to the man who made their dreams come true, but also for the new generation of Napoli support. Their children who had heard the tales and viewed the goals on television but never seen Maradona live.

To them he was like a mythical ghost, someone who their parents had simply made up for bed time stories. The framed photograph that adorned the living room wall alongside the blessed painting of San Gennaro. Both treated with equal deference. Now at least they could boast to their sons and daughters of seeing Maradona in the flesh. ''They had seen Maradona and they were in love. Oh Mama Mama Mama'!

In the hours leading up to the game Maradona spoke in gushing terms of his former teammate Ciro Ferrara but also explained there was no chance of him playing in his upcoming testimonial. I'm not playing because I can't manage it', stated Maradona. 'I had a try but my knee is out of action and it needs operating. But tonight I am going to be on the field with my teammates to be close to Ciro Ferrara. He is leaving football, but he will not leave our hearts because he is a great man'.

A glittering array of stars from past and present were in Naples paying tribute to Ciro. Including amongst them were some of the biggest names ever to wear the shirts of SSC Napoli and Juventus. Antonio Careca, Salvatore Bagni, Gianfranco Zola, Zinidane Zidane, Bruno Giordano, Paolo Di Canio, Fabio Cannavaro, Allesandro Del Piero, Gigi Buffon, Gianluca Vialli and Pavel Nedved. But there really was only one man the Neapolitans couldn't wait to see.

It was a most wonderful evening for the return of a king! On Thursday 9th June 2005, after a fourteen year absence Diego Armando Maradona stepped once more onto the hallowed turf of the San Paolo stadium and 70,000 erupted in a cacophony of electrifying emotion. Flares exploded igniting the Neapolitan sky blood red. Fathers whom once fell in worship at his dancing feet held their sons high to catch a glimpse of the great El Pibe De Oro. 'Do you see him young Diego'? They shouted.

''That man made our dreams come true'.

Amidst riotous scenes of acclaim set against a dramatic soundtrack of erupting firecrackers that both deafened and worried, Diego Maradona saluted those whom still adored the ground on which he walked. Watching on and cheering loudly as any of his fellow Neapolitans was Ciro Ferrara. Few would have blamed Ciro if he was annoyed at seeing his testimonial match reduced to a mere supporting role for Maradona's return but the truth lay in his heartfelt words.
'He is my gift to the people of Naples',
exclaimed an exuberant Ferrara. 'A present for the twenty years of my career'.

Surrounded by the usual frenetic, human melee Maradona's vain attempts at a lap of honour came to an abrupt halt. Though good natured the battery of photographers, cameramen and over-enthusiastic security men who swamped him appeared to irk the Argentinian. Finally losing patience he broke free of his mad-cap posse and raced towards the terraces to be as one with the Napoli tifosi.

After all the good times and bad, theirs had been a love that like him had refused to die. As if to soak up the atmosphere and adulation Maradona stood for a second and closed his eyes. The healing was complete, now he was truly home. Welcome to Naples! A proud city, so poor, ravaged by poverty and unemployment but whose inhabitants lived every day as their last.

Neapolitans never bowed to none and refused utterly the rules of normal Italian society. For such cannot apply in a place that wakes every day praying their eternally brooding volcano doesn't blow them off the face of the earth. These were Maradona's people and this remained Maradona's city. For a short time he helped them forget their daily plight and for that they were always truly grateful.

Nobody before or since came remotely close to entering their hearts like the great 'Dieco', and it is unlikely anyone ever will. Diego Maradona came from the sky promising miracles and he kept his word. As how this love affair finally ends, either happy or tragic, that is still to unfold for it remains written in the stars.