Former Leeds United midfielder becomes multi-millionaire with a £7m-plus windfall - YEP 4/5/22
Former Leeds United midfielder Steve Hodge has sold Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' shirt for £7,142,500 at auction.
By Graham Smyth
The staggering sum for the Argentina shirt, worn by the late
icon Maradona when he scored two of his most famous goals in a 1986 World Cup
win over in England, is a record for an item of sporting memorabilia.
Maradona scored with his hand, outjumping Three Lions keeper
Peter Shilton, then dribbled past a host of England players to score an equally
unforgettable second. He swapped shirts with Hodge after the game.
"I have been the proud owner of this item for over 35
years, since Diego and I swapped shirts in the tunnel after the famed match. It
was an absolute privilege to have played against one of the greatest and most
magnificent football players of all time," said Hodge.
"It has also been a pleasure to share it with the
public over the last 20 years at the National Football Museum, where it has
been on display."
Hodge, who arrived at Elland Road in a £900,000 deal in the
summer of 1991 and made a dozen starts during the First Division title-winning
campaign, scoring seven goals, had maintained for years that the shirt was not
for sale.
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Speaking after Maradona died in 2020 he told BBC Nottingham:
"I have had it for 34 years and have never once tried to sell it. I like
having it. It has incredible sentimental value.
"I've had people knocking on my door non-stop and the
phone's constantly ringing from every TV and radio station, and even foreign
stations.
"It has been uncomfortable and it hasn't been nice.
There has been a bit of flak flying around saying I wanted a million or two
million and am hawking it around for money. I find it disrespectful and totally
wrong. It's not for sale."
But a change in heart led to an auction at Sotheby’s and a
remarkable windfall for the 59-year-old.
