Maradona leaves Kolkata

Soccer legend Diego Maradona left Kolkata in the wee hours on Monday marking the end of the football wizard's two-day sojourn to the "city of joy".

The football prince, who displayed glimpses of his proverbial skills during various on-field programmes in the city, boarded the L 8751 Lufthansa flight at 2:45 am.

• Images: Of Maradona madness and meltdown

He was accompanied by his girlfriend Veronica, personal secretary and others.

Maradona would catch a connecting flight from Frankfurt.

The football legend had a slew of programmes lined up during his two-day stay which included laying of foundation stone of a football academy, attending felicitation at Yuva Bharati Krirangan, visiting Mother House of the Missionaries of Charity, meeting Marxist patriarch Jyoti Basu and meeting sub-junior boys at the football clinic on Mohun Bagan ground.

• Images: Maradona brings joy to Kolkata

Though the euphoria created by football maniacs on his arrival on December six was missing, many sports enthusiasts were seen lining along the route after Maradona left for the airport.

To avoid the crowd of fans and media persons, security personnel led him to the airport's international lounge through another gate.

He was seen off by officials of IFA and the state government.