Diego Maradona: Argentina Great Named Head Coach Of UAE’s Al-Fujairah

Diego Maradona has returned to the soccer spotlight with a new head coaching job: the Argentina legend has been named the new manager of United Arab Emirates second-division club Al-Fujairah.

Argentina’s Diego Maradona Named Manager of UAE’s Al-Fujairah

This marks the 56-year-old former Boca Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli attacking midfielder’s first coaching gig since he was fired as manager of UAE team Al Wasl in July 2012 after just one season.

Maradona posted a photo of himself holding Al-Fujairah’s No. 10 jersey (the number he used to wear with Argentina) on Facebook with the following caption in English, Spanish and Italian:

“I want to let you all know that I am the new manager of Al-Fujairah SC who hail from the UAE’s second division,” the Argentine wrote while presenting the red-and-white jersey. “These are my new colors!”

Maradona helped lead Argentina to win the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, and reached the final again four years later. He became famous for comments like the “Hand of God,” referring to a handball he was suspected of committing in the penalty box to score a goal in a game against England in the 1986 World Cup.

The legend twice won the Italian Serie A with Napoli, and also played for Sevilla and Argentina Juniors. He began his coaching career with short stints at Argentine teams Mandiyu de Corrientes and Racing Club in the mid-90s, but did not become manager of an international team until he became head coach of Argentina in 2008, a post he held until 2010.

Under Maradona, Argentina played in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa but were eliminated by Germany, who defeated the Albiceleste 4-0 in the quarter-finals.

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – JANUARY 09: Diego Maradona reacts during a FIFA Team Friendly Football Match at the FIFA headquarters prior to The Best FIFA Football Awards 2016 on January 9, 2017 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena