With Argentina in need of a savior, it was perhaps predictable that they would turn to their most famous son. Or so you might think. In fact, the appointment of Diego Maradona as the new coach of the country’s national team has caught the whole of South America by surprise. Many in the region are clearly not quite sure whether to greet it as a stroke of genius – in fitting with the reputation of the great man himself – or a massive gamble that could spectacularly backfire. Either way, for Maradona – who was officially unveiled in front of the press – his restoration to the role of national figurehead is a dream come true.
As he casts off the famous number 10 shirt he wore on his way to becoming the greatest player of his generation and steps into the dugout, the 48 year old is faced with the task of helping the team he loves to reach the World Cup finals in 2010 – a feat they have found more than a little difficult so far. A return of only one win in the last seven World Cup qualifiers saw Alfio Basile – the last man to lead Argentina ‘s senior side to an international title in the 1993 Copa America – step down two weeks ago. Four candidates began the race to be his successor – Carlos Bianchi, Miguel Angel Russo, Sergio Batista and Maradona.
At that stage, the impish former Boca Juniors, Napoli and Barcelona icon seemed to be the most unlikely option. His lack of experience as manager and his erratic, volatile reputation, which has seen him hit the headlines and the world of football was left stunned once again when he was revealed by the Argentinean FA as their chosen candidate.
It was even more shocking when the AFA president Julio Grondona stated that Maradona was the first coach to be approached. “Since 1979, I’ve been looking forward to having Maradona as coach of the national team,” beamed Grondona. “Maradona marked a turning point in Argentinean football.” On paper, it still remains a strange choice. However iconic he was as a player the fact remains that Maradona has just half a year of coaching experience – having taken charge of Deportivo Mandiyu for two months in 1994 and Racing Club for four months in 1995.
In recognition of that the AFA have appointed Carlos Bilardo – the man who coached him to success at the 1986 World Cup – to work alongside him as a general manager. However, Grondona insists there is no disputing who will have control of the team. “ Maradona is the number one,” he insisted. “Bilardo will be the director of national teams. He will be in charge of making everything work properly.” Whatever their dynamic is, it is clear the two will have little time to begin making their mark.
The arrival of Maradona will surely provide a major boost for the flagging confidence of his new squad – who sit third in the South American World Cup qualifying zone. He insists he wants his team to feel the same passion he felt as a player – the same passion that he now intends to display as a coach.