Diego Maradona: FIFA Should Retire No 10 Jersey In Honour Of Late Argentinian Great – Villas-Boas

02 July 1982 - FIFA World Cup - Argentina v Brazil - Diego Maradona of Argentina - (photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images)

FIFA should retire the number 10 shirt from the game to honour Argentine great Diego Maradona, Marseille manager Andre Villas-Boas has said.

Maradona on Wednesday at his home in Argentina after suffering a heart attack.

The Argentine was regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, with fans in Argentina referring to him as ‘El Dios’ – which means ‘The God’, but is also a play on words on his number 10 shirt, ‘El Diez.’

Maradona’s former club Napoli have not used the No. 10 shirt since 2000 as a mark of respect for the player who guided them to several trophies and Villas-Boas said world football body FIFA should also pay tribute by withdrawing the number.

“Maradona, yes it is tough news, I would like FIFA to retire the number 10 shirt in all competitions, for all teams,” Villas-Boas told reporters after Marseille’s 2-0 Champions League defeat by Porto.

“It would be the best homage we could do for him. He is an incredible loss for the world of football.”

FIFA has previously said it would not allow Argentina to dispense with the number.