Argentina icon Diego Maradona welcomed with a 'throne' by former club before inflicting heavy defeat
Diego Maradona was given royal treatment as he returned to former club Newell’s Old Boys as manager of Gimnasia La Plata.
The Buenos Aires-born icon made a small number of appearances for the club from the Argentinian first division during the 1993/94 season, towards the end of his career.
Returning as a manager for the first time, the World Cup winner was handed a hero’s welcome as Newell’s laid out a throne for Maradona to manage from.
READ MORE: Maradona reveals dream to coach Newell's after thrashing them with Gimnasia
The home team’s hospitality clearly backfired as the 59-year-old’s Gimnasia side emerged with a shock 4-0 win from their clash at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa.
Fans of the hosts even serenaded Maradona outside the Rosario hotel in which he was staying before the match, as he joined along and danced for the crowd.
After arriving at the ground, Maradona, who celebrates his birthday on Wednesday, signed his ‘throne’ before blowing kisses to the home fans and settling down for kick off.
His struggling Gimnasia side then caused an upset as they inflicted what was only Newell’s second defeat of the season.
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