Argentina great Maradona improves after successful brain surgery

It was confirmed on Wednesday that Argentina legend Diego Maradona is recovering after successful brain surgery. His doctor said in an update that the former footballer is showing signs of improvement but his progress is not yet clear.

Argentine legend Diego Maradona was improving after successful surgery to treat a subdural hematoma, a blood clot on the brain, the former World Cup winner's doctor said on Wednesday.

Dr Leopoldo Luque provided an update on Maradona's condition, saying: "Diego has been responding very well.

"When we removed the drain he laughed, looked at me, grabbed my hand, and the first impression is it is favourable."

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"He is in a post-operative period and the moods are difficult to assess.

"The first impression is it is favourable, but it is difficult to evaluate. Diego's evolution is day by day and in principle today he will be in intensive care as well."

The operation, after Maradona, 60, was admitted to hospital a day earlier, was to address the clot, often caused by a head injury, and which can put pressure on the brain.

"I was able to evacuate the hematoma successfully and Diego tolerated the surgery very well," Luque earlier told reporters outside the clinic where dozens of fans were gathered on thuesday.

"The steps now are observation, but it is controlled. It will depend on how he does. It is not highly complex, but it is still brain surgery," Luque added, saying the procedure had taken around 80 minutes.

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The intervention was potentially risky due to the ex-footballer's delicate general health, though Luque earlier said the procedure was "routine surgery" and that Maradona had been "lucid" and understood and agreed with the procedure.

Maradona was admitted to the Ipensa clinic in La Plata, Argentina, on Monday for anemia and dehydration, before being transferred to Olivos Clinic in Buenos Aires province.

Around 50 fans gathered in front of the Olivos Clinic, in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, celebrated when reports of the successful outcome started to emerge, chanting: "Diego, Diego!"

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Maradona, who won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986 and is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time, coaches local club Gimnasia y Esgrima. He last appeared in public on his 60th birthday last Friday before his side's league match against Patronato.

Dozens of fans of Gimnasia y Esgrima have converged on the hospital since Monday evening, waving flags and holding posters with messages of support as they waited for news.

"What we want the most is for Diego to get out of all this. He can be, he is the greatest, the greatest in the world," said Diego Bermudez, 41, a Maradona fan waiting outside the hospital.

Another fan, Oscar Medina, said: "Diego is fighting inside with medics. Hopefully God blesses the medics, to move on from this. His people are out here on the street, hearts beating

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