Incredible but apparently true — Diego Maradona is to be the new coach of the Argentine national team.
That is according to reports running on Argentine TV at the moment and the news has apparently been confirmed by the 1986 World Cup winning coach Carlos Bilardo, who may be signing up as part of Maradona’s staff.
Maradona, as we all know, has had a colourful past (to put it mildly) and if true it must go down as one of the biggest gambles taken by a major national association.
Will it work? As a player, Maradona inspired an otherwise rather modest Argentina squad to their World Cup victory in 1986 and perhaps he can work the same sort of magic as a coach.
What do you think? Please let us know in the comments…
PHOTO: Diego Maradona attends a news conference in Tbilisi, Oct. 23, 2008. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili
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16 comments so far
You’re about six months late for April 1, guys. This is the craziest thing I’ve heard ina while. Great, but insane. It ain’t gonna last…
- Posted by redderthaneverIt’s no joke, but there doesn’t seem to have been official confirmation yet.
- Posted by Kevin Fylan“Bilardo will take an active role but in the meeting it was made clear that I pick the team,” Maradona reportedly told Radio La Red.
Just waiting for an announcement from the AFA now…
it could be utterly inspired but more likely it will end up like Gazza at Kettering, which lasted barely a month. Mind you, rookie managers have done ok on the international stage…klinsmann, van basten etc. He is looking alot healthier anyway in that recent photo
- Posted by Mark MeadowsHe is a living legend which does not make him a good coach. I cannot imagine how Maradona will discipline his players when coaching.
- Posted by gomezHe’s an idiot. THis will not go well. All-Boca lineups and Messi getting benched for Aguero, since Aguero’s shacked up with Maradona’s daughter.
- Posted by amy[...] Source: Kevin Fylan [...]
- Posted by Soccer Camps » Blog Archive » Maradona to coach Argentina — your views[...] to Source Share and [...]
- Posted by Maradona to coach Argentina — your views | Soccer News InfoIt is the best news for Argentina, why not? all the gossip about experienced people Basile, Basarella, Belsa and even Pekerman didn’t get any titles? let’s see what is the best fotballer ever have to offer.
- Posted by BasharSurely it can’t end as badly as Gazza at Kettering, Mark. Sounds like Bilardo will be there as an enforcer of some kind. Good point about Klinsmann, Van Basten, etc. Force of personality can go a long way, I guess.
- Posted by Kevin FylanAmy, I hadn’t thought about the whole Aguero situation. Any other examples of players have a coach for a father-in-law?
- Posted by Kevin FylanWe all know that he has done plenty of mistakes in the past but I do feel the MAN deserve another chance with the national team.
By the way, I would like to take this opportunity to invite all of you to please visit my blog.
http://mundoalbiceleste.blogspot.com/
We have the best sources of Argentine football in English. Honest.
Your comments are most certainly appreciated.
- Posted by johnThe backstory to this deal must be amazing. Why Maradona? Why now? Does the federation think the team needs some kind of motivating? And what is Bilardo’s true role; is Maradona just some figurehead?
- Posted by Mikehttp://startingeleven.blogspot.com/2008/ 10/maradona-to-coach-argentina-is-this.h tml
I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE HOW DIEGO WILL PLAY HIS SON IN LAW AND MESSI, I THINK HE WILL DO A GREAT JOB BECAUSE THE PLAYER LOOK UP TO HIM.
- Posted by JEMSDutch midfielder Mark Van Bommel is Bert Van Marwijk’s son-in-law. Mark seems to be more settled when wearing the mighty ‘oranje’ jumper these days.
- Posted by FrankieMaradona is an egotistical, cocain snorting fool! Watch the Argentine national team go downhill dramatically from here!!!
DOPPI AUGURI A MARADONA
DOUBLES WISHES TO MARADONA
i speak about in my blog (nonsolonapoli.blogspot.com)
a new blog of Naples.
come to visit it.
angelo
- Posted by angelmcloveHmm, can’t help thinking this has got a “self-destruct / disaster” button written all over it! Pretty much since Italy 1990 and the defeat to German in the Final, Mardonna has been pressing that button. But if he does do this, I wish him luck, he’ll need it. He may be an idol in Argentina but if he messes this up football fans can be very fickle! Especially in South America.
- Posted by Rik