Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia on Thursday said Argentine football legend Diego Maradona was his inspiration behind taking up the ‘beautiful game’ as a career option.
Paying his tribute to Maradona, who died at the age of 60 in Buenos Aires on Wednesday night following a cardiac arrest, Bhutia said from young age he always aspired to play like the football legend.
“He (Maradona) has been one of the most inspirational players for me since the time I started watching football. I’ve grown up watching him and wanted to be like him,” the Sikkimese Sniper told PTI.
“It was just because of him I got up early in the morning to play in those wet and muddy grounds. I was all inspired by Maradona because I wanted to play like him. Definitely he had a big impact in my career.”
The Indian football legend had a chance to meet his childhood hero on the sidelines of an exhibition match at the Saltlake Stadium during Argentine’s visit to Kolkata in December 2008.
“We just shook hands. I was very, very nervous. My heart was beating fast. To meet my childhood hero whom I had worshipped would remain as was one of my best memories,” Bhutia said.
“It’s the biggest loss for world football. There will be no other big player to have played the game than Maradona in this era of world football.”