Villas Boas Asks FIFA To Retire Number 10 To Honor Maradona

JAKARTA - Marseille manager Andre Villas-Boas has called on FIFA to rest number 10 in honor of Argentine legend Diego Maradona, who died aged 60 from a heart attack.

Maradona is considered one of the greatest players of all time who fans in Argentina call 'El Dios' which means god or god, but it also plays on the word from the number ten he wears, 'El Diez.'

Napoli, who had been defended by Maradona, have not worn the number 10 shirt since 2000 as a sign of respect for the player who led them to win a number of trophies.

Now Villas-Boas is asking world soccer's governing body FIFA to pay similar respect by retiring the number.

"Maradona, yes that's tough news, I want FIFA to retire the number 10 shirt from all competitions, for all teams," Villas-Boas told reporters after Marseille lost 2-0 in the Champions League against Porto.

"That will be the greatest respect we can do for him. He is the biggest loss for world football."

FIFA previously stated it would not allow Argentina to rest that number.