Maradona new Argentina coach?

[Over the Bar]

 

Maradona 'set to coach Argentina' - From BBC


Argentina legend Diego Maradona could be set for a sensational return to football after claiming he has been offered the role of national coach.

The 1986 World Cup-winning skipper held talks with the Argentina Football Association (AFA) on Tuesday and is set to continue discussions on Wednesday.

The 47-year-old said: "The offer attracted me a lot. As soon as it is confirmed I will start working."

Maradona has had only two brief spells as a coach in Argentina.

If Maradona does take over he will succeed Alfio Basile, who resigned earlier this month after a World Cup qualifying defeat to Chile.

BBC Sport's South American football reporter Tim Vickery said: "This is all coming from Maradona.

"There is no official word from the AFA yet so it's still early days. But the tide seems to be blowing in his direction.

"He's a religious icon over in Argentina and is a very dangerous force to leave out."

Widely regarded as one of the best players in the history of the sport, Maradona is an iconic figure in Argentina after a remarkable 21-year playing career in which he hit new heights of brilliance on the field and plumbed depths of despair away from the action.

After making his professional debut as a 16-year-old for Argentinos Juniors, he went on to play for his beloved Boca Juniors before spells in Europe with Barcelona, Napoli and Sevilla.

Maradona's unique skills with the ball at his feet made him a superstar, and he is idolised by Napoli fans for almost single-handedly winning the Serie A title and the Uefa Cup for the unfashionable club.

But his most memorable achievements came with the national side - the 1986 World Cup tournament becoming synonymous with his name.

His first goal of the 2-1 win came courtesy of an outrageous handball which he later described as "the hand of God"; but the second is said by many to be the best goal ever scored as he danced past five England players before poking the ball past Peter Shilton.

But Maradona's life away from football has been anything but straightforward, with a long-running addiction to cocaine undermining his genius.

The second failed drugs of his career saw him sent home from the 1994 World Cup in disgrace, and since retiring at the age of 37, Maradona has suffered numerous health problems.

Battles with his drug addiction, alcoholism and obesity saw him suffer a heart attack in 2004 which put him in intensive care, while a later stomach-stapling operation saw him lose 30kg (66 lbs) of excess weight.

Maradona is a virtual novice in coaching terms, with just short spells with Argentine clubs Deportivo Mandiyu and Racing Club in the 1990s on his CV.

But with his health largely restored, Maradona now looks set to take the reins as coach of the national team.

Carlos Bilardo, who coached the winning side in 1986, was involved in the talks with AFA president Julio Grondona and is likely to be part of Maradona's coaching set-up.

Noray Nakis, the president of the AFA selection commission, has already stated his wish, saying: "I'd like Maradona to be the next coach."

Maradona was thought to be on a shortlist with former Boca Juniors coach Carlos Bianchi, San Lorenzo coach Miguel Angel Russo and Sergio Batista, who took the Under-23 squad to Olympic gold in Beijing in Augus
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DIEGO MARADONA FACTFILE
Diego Maradona
Born: 30 October 1960, Buenos Aires
Clubs: Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, Newell's Old Boys
International debut: 27 February 1977 (aged 16)
International career: 91 caps, 34 goals
Major honours: 1981 Argentina title; 1983 Cope del Rey; 1986 World Cup; 1987 Serie A title; 1987 Copa Italia; 1989 Uefa Cup; 1990 Serie A title
Maradona captained Argentina to a famous triumph, playing every minute of the tournament and scoring five goals, including two against England in the quarter-final which will live forever in football folklore.

[Owenmoresider]

 

Could be another Stan job. Though only about 100,000,000,000 times more high profile.

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

It'd be an absolutely crazy appointment but some craic if it happened!

[Orior]

I'm sure he'll do a grand job. He knows all the roads to the big stadiums, he can easily handle 50 seater buses, and he still has a HGV licence, sure he'll... hang on... oh.... sorry... I thought he was the new coach driver.

[Mentalman]

As a footballer he was the best I ever saw in my time...and that goal...how a short lad like that got up to touch it over Shilton I will never know! On the pitch a genius, off it a disaster. This has car crash TV written all over it. I hope for his sake it's not true, but it would not surprise me, the man is adored like a God in Argentina. No doubt they will place great coaches with him, but with Diego God knows what will happen. Let's hope it's great!

[Minder]

Best player ever, it makes me smile when he is mentioned in the same breath as Geordie Best.

[Over the Bar]

Best player ever, it makes me smile when he is mentioned in the same breath as Geordie Best.

Ah now let's not start that old chestnut again.  All depends on your definition of "best player".  Both are very different in style.  I think it's generally accepted (but granted not by everyone) that Maradona, Best, Pele, Eusebio, Puskas & Cruyff are regarded as the top 5 forwards and every man will have his own opinion on the order.

[full back]

I think it's generally accepted (but granted not by everyone) that Maradona, Best, Pele, Eusebio, Puskas & Cruyff are regarded as the top 5 forwards and every man will have his own opinion on the order.

Or regarded as the top 6


As for Maradona, this could turn out to be a nightmare for all concerned
A genius on the field, but a walking disaster off it, much like Bestie

[Minder]

South American football is full of combustible characters so he will be grand, you can just imagine a penalty being given against them in injury time and him running on and giving the ref his best roundhouse kick...........

[maxpower]

South American football is full of combustible characters so he will be grand, you can just imagine a penalty being given against them in injury time and him running on and giving the ref his best roundhouse kick...........

mad but i just had the same image as i was reading through the posts....

[magpie seanie]

Mad enough that it might actually work.

[ONeill]

The wee man could be fcuked out the door on Wednesday if they lose again. It'd be a footballing tragedy if the likes of Messi isn't at the World Cup.

[AFS]

Apparently that was only Argentina's second ever home defeat in a World Cup qualifier. Couldn't believe that stat, quite an achievement for Maradona.

[Galwaybhoy]

Apparently that was only Argentina's second ever home defeat in a World Cup qualifier. Couldn't believe that stat, quite an achievement for Maradona.

Is that true, if so thats some record even if theres a lot of poor teams in South America.

[ross4life]

The wee man could be fcuked out the door on Wednesday if they lose again. It'd be a footballing tragedy if the likes of Messi isn't at the World Cup.

can you imagine a world cup without Messi & ronaldo? less hype & more football