In Nice where he lives with his friend, Jorge Quiroz has not stopped receiving messages on his phone since the world learned this Wednesday evening of the disappearance of Diego Maradona.
At 59, the former coach of the PSG women's under-19 team is obviously very moved by the death of his compatriot with whom he shared, in 1981, the colors of Boca Juniors of Buenos Aires.
While watching footage from the career of the deceased champion, Jorge Quiroz let his heart speak.
How do you feel after hearing of Maradona's passing?
JORGE QUIROZ.
It's a sad day for Argentines, who didn't need that extra, and for everyone who loves football around the world.
Because, already in 1981, when we were in Ivory Coast for a friendly match with Boca, people all knew him!
I've never seen something like this: everyone wanted to touch it, see it.
It's amazing what this boy gave off!
How unique was he?
When he was little he was not well fed, he had not had an education.
He found himself with enormous power and he couldn't handle it all.
But his qualities as a football player… Exceptional!
I have never seen that.
In training or in matches, he surprised us every time.
It was incredible, incredible… And yet, I saw Ronaldinho or Messi training in Barcelona.
But he had something more.
It was impressive.
Jorge Quiroz has coached the under-19 women of PSG (left, with Olivier Echouafni, coach of D1).
PSG
Why do you think he had something extra?
I think it was self-esteem that made him so strong.
He had a big heart.
He comes from a province called Corrientes.
I know her well because my grandfather was from there too.
These are people who fight all the time, who never give up.
He, moreover, he comes from a slum, he lived through difficult times.
Football, for him, was an escape route.
It was only in the field that he was happy.
That's why he developed wonderful football.
For him, it was natural.
But even in training he didn't want to lose.
I realize it now.
The moments spent together stand out… It's impressive.
Do you know how lucky you are to have worked with him so well?
Yes, I realize that now.
Often people, when I say that I knew Maradona, go crazy.
That boy gives off such stuff.
And living with him emotional moments, it was incredible.
But his death hurts everyone.
My father called me, he was crying.
It's a shame, he leaves very young
(60 years old)
, he had a very special life.
For those who love football, this is unheard of.
Here.
He had it all.
It was a bull.
After that, you can't say he was cheating.
His hand against England?
It was a reflex.
His whole life was like that.
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VIDEO. Death of Maradona: the ex-football star had a brain operation in early November
How was your first meeting with Boca?
In fact, we were playing a friendly match against Argentina Juniors, where he was playing, and I took it in scoring.
I put two or three tackles on him and everyone insulted me.
I didn't understand why, I was just trying to stop it.
At half-time he came to the locker room and said to me: "You won't hit me any more now.
And he put on Boca's jersey.
He had signed with us but I didn't know it!
It was the party.
In the locker room, what was he like?
It was a starving lion.
Something crazy !
He was giving off something.
The desire to play but above all a terrible self-confidence.
When you entered the field with him, you were already leading 1-0 ...
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When I saw him at the end, it pained me.
The other time, I changed the channel because I couldn't see him like that, walking leaning on a guy… He couldn't have been feeling good because he was still very proud.
Even when he was playing injured… You know that with us he played with a twelve-centimeter strain?
I don't know how he was doing.
The doctor told us: "This guy is an alien!"
"