- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
When Julio Grondona asked, “what do you want to do?”, Diego Maradona received his best birthday present ever. After turning 48 yesterday, Maradona had the distinction of not asking for a gift. He was offered one.
“I have already told you Julio, I want to be the coach of Argentina,” Maradona said.
The response from the president of the AFA was immediate. His ensuing comments made Maradona’s heart beat as fast as the time he scored the infamous ‘hand of god’ goal against England in 1986.
“Very well,” Grondona says. “This is what you have always wanted. Argentine football is now in your hands, Diego.”
So on the sixth floor of a department in the office of Puerto Madero, four key men (Julio and Humberto Grondona, Maradona and Carlos Bilardo) sealed the position of manager of Argentina’s football team en route to South Africa 2010.
The successor to Afilo Basile has now been dertermined, and Maradona is it.
One of the finest ever footballers to grace the field will be taking charge of a nation desperate for a World Cup – their last being, ironically, in 1986 with Maradona taking charge as a player.
Maradona arrived in Argentina two hours before he would receive the eagerly awaited call from Grondona. The football legend was not expecting the position of manager even though he made his intentions clear long before this drama began.
Despite this, he had an important appointment with Grondona and company. On his way to the reunion, Maradona was informed that Carlos Bilardo was going to be present at the meeting.
“Now, this is weird,” Maradona said. “But when I arrive everything will be sweet and I will be calm no matter what happens.”
At the conclusion of his reunion with Grondona, Maradona was officially named as Argentina’s national coach.
He knows the pressure will be on from the outset. But Maradona already had goals in mind.
Mobbed by fans and the media, he outlined the necessary steps for Argentina to regain their aura as the best football nation on the planet.
“For Argentina, everything else takes a back seat. It is clear now that I will form and control the way this team functions on the field.
“My first job will be to talk with the players and convince them of my appointment, one person at a time.”
Even though Maradona will get to his players eventually, some need the understanding faster than others – like Barcelona star, Lionel Messi.
“Messi is a terrific footballer, but I will make it my duty that most of the pressure place on him is taken away so we can allow the kid to enjoy his football.”
Maradona is wearing the famous jersey once again. Who knows what could follow?