At Diego Maradona Soccer Academy in Ontario, Canada, football is taught with a strong South American influence and a deep connection to Argentine football culture.
In an interview with Mundo Albiceleste, Diego Hernán Maradona, nephew of Diego Armando Maradona, spoke about his football journey, the growth of the academy, and his mission to help develop young players in Canada.
“My name is Diego Hernán Maradona, I’m the son of Lalo Maradona, Diego’s brother,” he said. “My father played the end of his career in the Canadian league for Toronto Italia, and I grew up a little bit here before we went back to Argentina.”
After spending years in Argentina and going through the youth system at Argentinos Juniors, Maradona returned to Canada at 18 years old for a trial with Toronto FC.
“That’s where I met my wife,” he explained. “When I decided to stop playing, I wanted to stay in Canada because of the lifestyle. I already had childhood friends here, and obviously my wife is from here.”
The academy, located in Vaughan just north of Toronto, was founded in 2013.
“I always wanted to work in football. It’s what I know since I was a kid, it’s in my blood,” Maradona said. “My wife told me, ‘Why don’t you start working with kids? You love teaching and you know a lot about football.’ She handled more of the administrative side while I focused on what I enjoy on the field.”
Since then, the academy has continued to grow while maintaining a philosophy strongly inspired by South American football.
“My methodology is mostly South American,” he explained. “We’ve traveled a lot to Europe in recent years, especially to Belgium with Union Saint-Gilloise, and I try to integrate some of what European football is asking for today. But most of it is still South American — always with the ball, small-sided games, lots of touches, letting the game flow naturally.”
The academy welcomes players from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures, reflecting the diversity of Canada itself.
“Canada is very multicultural,” Maradona said. “Most are Canadians, but with Italian parents, Jamaican, Portuguese — we have people from everywhere. We’ve had players from Korea, Italy, the United States, Venezuela and Spain come to our camps.”
He added that the academy works with children as young as four years old up to teenagers around 13 or 14 years old.
One of the academy’s biggest annual events is its summer camp program in July.
“It’s the biggest camp we do every year,” Maradona explained. “We bring coaches like my father from Argentina and many South American coaches with FIFA experience who played professionally.”
Beyond training, Maradona believes one of his responsibilities is helping improve football development pathways in Canada.
“There’s a lot of talent here,” he said. “But many players never get the experience or guidance needed to help them move in the right direction. There are many parents coaching teams who know the basics, but not necessarily what professional clubs and coaches are really looking for.”
He continued: “I lived the experience of being in youth academies, playing in another country and understanding what it takes. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to start this football school.”
Maradona also spoke emotionally about the influence his uncle had on his life.
“My uncle is everything to me,” he said. “Not only for what he did on the field, but for who he was with us off the field. He was always there for the family. I’m very grateful for everything he left us.”
He added: “Nobody can believe there’s a Maradona in Canada. But when they see how passionate I am about football, they understand where I come from.”
The academy is also expanding internationally through tournaments and travel opportunities.
“We’re doing many international tournaments now to give the kids more exposure,” Maradona explained. “At the end of May we’ll be at the Dreams Cup in Miami with Inter Miami, and at the beginning of June we’re taking a team to Barcelona for another major international tournament called MIC7.”
For more information, visit Diego Maradona Soccer Academy or follow the academy on Instagram @diegomaradonasocceracademy. (Photo credits: @knshotss)
