Maradona leads Napoli 1987 Scudetto Celebrations

July 16, 2023

In 1987, Napoli clinched their first Scudetto following a dramatic 1-1 draw with Fiorentina at Stadio San Paolo. This historic victory marked a significant milestone for the club, igniting an eruption of joy among the passionate Neapolitan fans. The catalyst for this triumph was none other than Diego Maradona, whose extraordinary talent and leadership propelled Napoli to the pinnacle of Italian football. Maradona not only dazzled on the pitch but also embodied the spirit and resilience of the team. His pivotal role in securing the clubs first Serie A title culminated in a jubilant celebration, with Maradona at the forefront, lifting the trophy and etching his name into Neapolitan football history.

Napoli v Fiorentina 1987 is a series of photographs by British football photographer Mark Leech that focuses on Napoli’s Diego Maradona as he leads his side’s 1987 Serie A title celebrations at the Stadio San Paolo. The limited edition A5 zine contains 16 colour photographs across 28 pages.

Napoli v Fiorentina 1987 | Mark Leech

A series of photographs by Mark Leech that captures Napoli’s Diego Maradona leading his side’s 1987 title celebrations at Stadio San Paolo.

A limited edition A5 zine containing 16 colour photographs across 28 pages.

£8.50

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May 10th, 1987, the day Diego Maradona carved his name forever in the hearts of the people of Naples.

A dramatic 1-1 draw with Fiorentina clinched a first ever Serie A league title for Napoli and Maradona’s God like status was assured.

The Scudetto was theirs and the deity that was Diego was still the talisman when they repeated the feat three years later.

36 years on, Napoli would be Champions again, their third title triumph, but it was El Diego who who was the catalyst for that first big breakthrough all those years ago.

Come the final whistle, sports photographer Mark Leech was right in the thick of things, when understandably chaotic scenes erupted and the title was won.

Maradona was big news. A then world record £6.9m transfer fee had prised him away from Barcelona in 1984 and a 75,000 crowd turned out the day he was unveiled.

His “hand of God” 1986 World Cup goal for Argentina against England had made him public enemy number one back in England, but there was no doubting his popularity in Naples, as he repaid the passionate devotion of their fans with a brand of football that tore the title from the grasp of habitual front runners Juventus and out from under the feet of the traditionally wealthier challengers from Milan or Rome.

Maradona didn’t get on the scoresheet in that 1-1 draw, that honour went to Andrea Carnevale for Napoli and a young Roberto Baggio for Fiorentina.

But it was their captain, Maradona who led the celebrations. Soon to be honoured with murals throughout the city, and tattoos pledging love for life, Maradona took the lead at the head of a celebratory lap of honour.

Leech’s dramatic pictures all come from that one game.

“The match is something of a blur,” he recalled. “I now wonder how I managed to get anything at all from the mayhem that ensued.”

Leech shot it all on film, with manual focus lens. He then had to get himself and his gear out of the stadium and back to his hotel. No taxis and only limited public transport meant he faced a gruelling route back through the countryside.

“At some point in the fading light I hit a dead end and sat down, thoroughly exhausted and I’m still not sure how I got back to town. I really have no recollection.

“When I returned with the photos nobody in the English media knew about the story or wanted to know, as Maradona was still public enemy number one, less than twelve months after that match in the Azteca.

“But, year by year, the story became bigger and here we are now.”

Leech does recall, however, the smaller details. A hair raising taxi journey from the airport in bumper to bumper traffic, with one driver, reluctant to apply the brake, but keen to extol the virtues of his favourite English player… Nobby Stiles.

Leech was also warned to keep away from the flats surrounding the ground and go straight to the stadium, but instead found himself in the thick of the nearby community, taking pictures of some young fans, but then facing another mother’s screams of abuse for apparently not also taking a picture of her family.

Chaotic scenes before, during and after for Leech to navigate, but his pictures capture Maradona at the peak of his powers when his charisma was unrivalled.

He was a genuine World star, the greatest player of his generation. And in Naples he will forever be their favourite son.

Mark Leech is one of the game’s most experienced photographers and over the years has amassed a rich archive of football photographs. His agency Well Offside is one of the world’s leading providers of football photographs.