Diego Maradona taken to hospital ‘to undergo tests after feeling poorly for some time’ – just days after Argentina legend celebrated his 60th birthday
- The Argentinian footballing legend celebrated his 60th birthday on Friday
- Gimnasia coach attended their match against Patronato but left before kick-off
- Local media reported that Maradona was taken to a clinic near Buenos Aires
- The 60-year-old has suffered frequent periods in hospital over the years
Football legend Diego Maradona has been admitted into hospital in Argentina, local media reported on Monday.
The 60-year-old was reportedly taken to the Ipensa clinic in La Plata, about an hour from Buenos Aires.
Maradona coaches the local club Gimnasia y Esgrima.
Argentina legend Diego Maradona has been taken to a hospital near Buenos Aires
The reports said Maradona, who won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986 and is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time, was admitted to hospital to undergo tests as he was feeling poorly for some time and will be held under observation for ‘several days’.
Maradona, who celebrated his 60th birthday on Friday, was in attendance of Gimnasia’s 3-0 win over against Patronato before leaving at kick-off.
Maradona sat out Gimnasia’s first days of training in August as a precaution to avoid the risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 as he is considered in the risk group
Maradona attended Gimnasia’s game against Patronato on Friday but left before kick-off
Maradona has suffered frequent periods in hospital over the years, often due to the extravagant lifestyle that accompanied and followed his playing career.
The former Barcelona and Napoli striker was also admitted to hospital in January 2019 with internal bleeding in the stomach.
He also fell ill at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he was filmed passing out in an executive box at the Argentina-Nigeria game.
Maradona gestures while managing Gimnasia in the Argentine Primera Division in February
Maradona was taken into hospital in 2004 with severe heart and respiratory problems linked to cocaine use.
He later underwent drug rehabilitation in Cuba and Argentina before a stomach-stapling operation in 2005 helped him lose weight.
In 2007 he checked himself into a clinic in Buenos Aires to help him overcome alcohol abuse problems.
The Argentina captain celebrates his goal at the 1994 World Cup – days before his drugs ban