Diego Maradona’s death left Mauricio Pochettino ‘broken with pain’ as former Tottenham manager remembers ‘hero and friend’

Mauricio Pochettino was left ‘broken with pain’ upon learning of Diego Maradona’s death.

The Argentina icon and one of the greatest ever players suffered a cardiac arrest on Wednesday and died aged 60.

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It has left many people devastated, with fans lighting candles and laying flowers by murals of the World Cup winner in Argentina and Naples where he is revered and Pochettino was one of many keen to remember a football hero.

The former Tottenham manager idolised Maradona, played alongside him and also became his roommate.

“Broken with pain,” Pochettino’s son, Maurizio wrote on behalf of his father on Instagram.

“Diego, you were my hero and friend, I was so fortunate to have shared football and life with you.

“You will always be in my heart. All my love to your family.”

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Like many, Pochettino fell in love with football because of Maradona and has previously recalled his delight at meeting him for the first time.

Pochettino was still making his way at Newell’s Old Boys in 1993 when the Argentine club pulled off a coup and signed him.

He later roomed with him at the club and became friends.

When he was Tottenham manager he invited Maradona to the new White Hart Lane as his guest and he even had some words of encouragement for Harry Kane.

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“Don’t always go near post with your shots,” he told the Spurs striker through his former international teammate Ossie Ardiles.

“Go across goal sometimes. You know why? Goalkeepers watch you on TV all the time. So next time… across!”

And like his manager, Kane also seemed inspired by meeting Maradona.

“That’s what it’s about, meeting these people, feeling their good positive vibes and using that in my game.”