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This is how Luis Manuel and Espinosa’s historic Maradona markings were in Asturias: “He could make us look ridiculous …”

“It was a before and after in my career,” said Espinosa, exactly the same thing that he had said every time they asked him about that day. More than the sporting repercussion, the Toledo defender based in Gijón refers to his relationship with the Sporting fans: “My signing had been discussed a lot among the fans and from then on they recognized me as a good marker.” Espinosa even received recognition from his rival: “Maradona’s behavior was phenomenal. I only have good words for him. Even in later interviews he came to say that he had been very clever, that I had anticipated his movements before they passed the ball to him. And, contrary to what many people assume, without committing too many fouls: “I grabbed him as much as he grabbed me.”

“We prepare the marking”, adds Espinosa, clarifying that at that time individual marks were the norm in Spanish football: “I was used to marking very great players. But pairing up with Maradona at that time would be like doing it with Messi now. It was out of the ordinary. I knew that the key was not to control the ball and face me because if I was not lost ”.

José Manuel Espinosa Gómez (San Bartolomé, Toledo, 7-28-1959) acknowledges that that game cost him more sleeplessness than usual. “Fifteen days before I was a little nervous,” he highlights with a touch of irony. “But it was normal because, in the case of Maradona, he could make a fool of you.” And despite the fact that that afternoon he won the game, Espinosa does not hesitate to point out Maradona as the best he ever met: “I had to face great players, like Quini himself in that Cup tie with Castilla. And then, with Sporting, Gullit, Van Basten, Klaus Allofs, but Maradona was something else ”.

A famous marking. Luis Manuel fulfilled his role with Maradona and he recognized his work. In the image, Luis Manuel presses the Argentine in a match action. | LNE


The Espinosa-Maradona duel had a precedent, in a League Cup match in the 1982-83 season, but it went unnoticed because the Sportinguista defender was sent off in the first half after seeing two yellow cards. A year later, Vujadin Boskov was clear that Espinosa was the right man to stop the Argentine star: “In the dressing room he told us that famous phrase: I put my worst player with the best of the opposite and that’s how our best ten play with their worst ten”.

Espinosa regrets that Diego Maradona has not been able to transfer football excellence to his personal life. “I have always followed his career. I found it impressive, above all, what he did in Naples, where he turned a mediocre team into league champions. And, of course, his leadership in the Argentine team, with the wonders of the World Cup in Mexico. But his sports career has not been in line with his private life. His behavior has not been very exemplary, especially for children, because of drugs and other things.

Maybe it wasn’t the Maradona of Naples or the World Cup 86. But he imposed. Boy he did. Sevilla visited the old Carlos Tartiere, the one with the fences and the fans on their feet, in November 1992 and Jabo Irureta, a consummate defensive strategist, had to adapt his team to the circumstances. In front, the best player in history at the time, although in a minor version. “It was not the one from years ago but he did extraordinary things: controls, passes … And he had a great personality,” recalls Jabo Irureta, who thought of a different plan than the one he had tried other times.




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Maradona’s life, in pictures

Oviedo de Jabo started with defense. And that rear shone. Niko Jerkan put the class as a libero. Ahead, two impetuous markers, each with his own style: Luis Manuel and Gorriarán. The first question that arises from that game is: Why did Luis Manuel take charge of that marking instead of Gorriarán, an expert in the field?

“To put it in a fine way, let’s say that Luis Manuel was less bulky than me,” says Gorriarán, sly. The Basque had become famous for his performance against Futre a couple of years earlier. But Maradona was different. “I had a lot of danger in the set pieces, so we wanted to avoid fouls near the area. That is why I chose Luis Manuel. Gorri was very strong, but before a dribble he would not let the player pass, ”says Irureta.

There was another important detail. Maradona from Sevilla’s stage, 32, used to go down to receive the center of the field, far from the area of ​​influence of a forward. “I thought about sending Berto to cover him, but he really liked going up, on the attack. In the end I opted for Luis Manuel because I had the conditions to do so. And I think I was right, ”says Jabo.

To prepare the appointment, the technician drew on experience. “It’s an anecdote that I usually tell: I scored Pelé,” says Irureta, inside his stage as a footballer, with a point of pride. It happened in a friendly, a tribute to Rivilla, Atlético player, in a clash between the colchoneros and the Brazilian Santos. The coach, Marcel Domingo, ordered him to take over the Brazilian: “You, behind Pelé.” And so he did. The anecdote haunted Jabo for years. When he coached Racing, the following year at Oviedo, the players gave him a shirt with 10 from Brazil. “I told Luis Manuel about my experience with Pelé, of course. He was the youngest in the defense but I trusted him ”.

The experiment worked. Bango, formerly of Oviedo, advanced to Sevilla, but then the blues were released, submitting the rival. Paco, in a rebound, equaled the shock at 22 minutes. Oviedo deserved more, but settled for a 1-1 draw. “The key was the functioning of the entire team. Luis Manuel marked Maradona, but Gorriarán and I had to be attentive to the unchecking of the teammates ”, recalls Jerkan. “The good thing about that defense is that if you made a mistake, you knew Jerkan would come to your aid. He was a phenomenon, one of the five best defenders who have played in Spain in the last 30 years ”, defends Gorri.

The focus, then, shifted from Maradona to Luis Manuel, hero of that afternoon. So popular was the Oviedo game that even the Argentine star was full of praise. “Luis Manuel has given me a magnificent and noble marking,” Maradona said after the crash. “It is logical that I needed something when there is no other option. The show is magnified when there are no bad intentions, “he added. Maradona gave his shirt to the blue defender in recognition of his work on the pitch.

A special warm-up. The paths of Maradona and Oviedo would cross again a second time this season, this time on matchday 28 and at Sánchez Pizjuán. Antic had relieved Irureta in a clash that was played on a Sanchez Pizjuán holiday. “It was played at noon because it was a party in Seville. And it was very hot ”, recalls Jerkan, headline that day. Oviedo went out to warm up. Then Sevilla did. But only ten headlines made it. “Everyone from Sevilla came out onto the pitch except Maradona. He came out with 7 minutes or so left. He appeared with a small ball to make filigree in the area of ​​the loudest fans of Seville “, rememora Niko Jerkan.

Oviedo won that match in Andalusian territory. They won 0-1, thanks to a goal from Carlos from the penalty spot in the 79th minute. Maradona would only have 3 more games left before abandoning his Sevillian adventure.

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