Argentina to turn to the great, but flawed, Diego Maradona?

It isn’t official yet but it seems more and more likely that Argentina legend Diego Maradona is set for an unbelievable return to football as the national coach of Argentina.

Total novice

Maradona has had only two brief spells as a coach in Argentina. In terms of managerial experience he must be regarded as a total novice with just short spells with Argentine clubs Deportivo Mandiyu and Racing Club in the 1990s.

As a player, Maradona had few, if any, equals in the history of the game, but off the field, his life has lurched from crisis to crisis. His brilliance on the field was always slightly tarnished by his long-running addiction to cocaine, particularly after the second failed drugs of his career saw him sent home from the 1994 World Cup.

Flawed genius

Since he retired ten years ago, at the age of thirty-seven, the flawed genius has suffered a number of health problems. Battles with his drug addiction, alcoholism and obesity saw him suffer a heart attack in 2004 which put him in intensive care and left a nation holding its breath. The simple fact is that whatever he may have done wrong in his life, Maradona is as big a hero in Argentina as it is possible to be and is treated like royalty, or even almost as a religious icon.

Following the talks on Tuesday, Maradona said, “The offer attracted me a lot. As soon as it is confirmed I will start working. The idea is to start working immediately after the official announcement with the players who are in Argentina and then take the first plane to talk to the ones in Europe.”

Strong case

Those comments from Maradona and the fact that Noray Nakis, the president of the Argentine Football Association selection commission, has already made his desire clear by saying, “I’d like Maradona to be the next coach,” add together to make a pretty strong case for the little man to be unveiled as the new coach today.

In his playing career Maradona produced moments of exquisite brilliance, the like of which I don’t think I had ever seen before. He glided over the ground in a mesmeric way that seemed to defy possibility. He was quite simply the best player I have ever seen.

Graced the shirts

After playing for Boca Juniors in his home country he travelled to Europe where he graced the shirts of Barcelona, Napoli, where he almost single-handedly led the club to Serie A and Uefa Cup titles, and Sevilla.

His playing career is probably best remembered though for what he achieved with the Argentine national side. The winning World Cup team of 1986 was built around Maradona. It seemed at the time that Maradona with any other ten players would have won the tournament. A great player at the very peak of his ability. It was wonderful to watch. Even for an Englishman!

Opportunity

Now it looks as though Maradona’s life is going to take a new turn. Defeat against Chile led to the former coach leaving the role and leaving open the opportunity for someone to take the reins in the build up to World Cup 2010.

Maradona’s name was immediately linked, but so were several others. 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 August.

Gamble

Despite the probably more serious and justifiable claims the other contenders have for taking the role, it seems as though an apparently healthy Maradona will be given the job. In terms of being a popular decision the Football Association will have no problems. In terms of football, they are taking an enormous gamble.

Maradona is untested even at club level, let alone in the international arena. Carlos Bilardo, who coached the winning World Cup side in 1986, was also involved in the talks, and it will be imperative for Maradona to have men such as him around.

Harsh world

I can’t help but feel that if this appointment is confirmed, it is a romantic one and one that has a great story behind it, but in the harsh world of trying to win a World Cup, it is too much of a risk for a country that should be in there amongst the favourites.

I really wish Diego Maradona well because like nearly every football fan of my generation, I can forgive his less savoury characteristics because of the beautiful, poetic football that he played and the entertainment and joy he gave me just watching his brilliance.

I hope this decision doesn’t backfire on anyone, because it would be a shame to destroy the legend of Diego Maradona.