A SPECIAL PODCAST VERSION(Part One of Five)It began on 5th July 1984. A most beautiful day in the Italian south.

With 70,000 screaming Neapolitans roaring out his name in the San Paolo stadium, Diego Armando Maradona arrived under the shadow of Mount Vesuvio in Naples, and for seven years all hell was let loose! For so long the ailing giant SSC Napoli criminally underachieved. Then came Maradona.

Blessed with a ball at his feet on the field, hopelessly cursed off it. He mixed openly with the city’s Camorra underworld.

The Camorra. The notorious Giuliano clan.

Untouchable, beyond reproach. A lifestyle fuelled by cocaine.

A lawless idol with thorns so deep they pricked to make Maradona believe for a while he was a God. When not enjoying the decadent excesses of this Babylon by the sea, there was magic to be made on the field, as the charismatic Argentinian inspired Napoli to their first ever Scudetto title.

An alluring tale of wonderful football, glory, despair, betrayal and corruption. A city that lived for the day and chanced their hand on the forever changing moods of Vesuvio.

From a high their patron San Gennaro kept a watching eye, but even he could not bring about a happy ending. Miracles are one thing, Maradona another! For in this city where the devil feared to tread, even the angels had dirt under their wings.

Welcome to Naples!. .