Comments on: Can Maradona lead Argentina to 2010 glory?

By: Gabriel

Gabriel — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:15:00 +0000

I hate all of you that put down Maradona for the few mistakes he’s made in life, REMEMBER he helped give us the world cup and i am thankful to God for that. All you haters can go to hell! Maradona is now 2-0 leading the Argentine National Team as Head Coach! You’ll see in 2010 that we are blessed to have him as our Head Coach!

By: DAVID HARDMAN

DAVID HARDMAN — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:08:04 +0000

Maradona was the most gifted footballer who ever played the game and he will lead Argentina to glory in 2010. Mano De Dios…. Davey Hardman…

By: Daniel Chung

Daniel Chung — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:44:57 +0000

There are presumptions that Maradona’s lack of managing experience will do him in. He’s arguably the best player the game of football has ever produced, but this quality will work against him as a manager because geniuses fail to understand the relative shortcomings of those below that standard. Then there’s the old finger pointing to his many vices as another reason why Diego Armando Maradona will fail miserably. Granted these are valid reasons why this particular selection of Maradona raises more eyebrows. Let’s all for a moment forget Carlos Bianchi. The man himself doesn’t want to coach whilst Grondona is the head of the AFA so he was already out of the picture by his own doing.

For those of us who are not from Argentina, we often fail to appreciate the place in society that Maradona occupies. I’m not referring to the Church of Maradona or those who literally idolize him from the suburbs to the barrios of Buenos Aires..I’m talking about his position amongst footballers. Every kid who has been born post-circa 1986 grows up praying that they can be the next Maradona. Every new potential star is dubbed the next Maradona. He is the focal point of football in Argentina. So installing him as the manager of the albicelestos has more meaning than just appointing a tactician or a man who will bring results. He will inspire those who answer his call to don the shirt of Argentina. And when I say inspire, I’m not just referring to the kind of pat on the shoulder and the “let’s have it” pep talk in the dressing room. These are players who idolized Maradona when they played street football, who at some point dream they can score a goal like his second against England. In short, if you are Aguerro, or Messi, or Tevez, and you know he is now sitting on the bench as manager (and not up in the stands as a hincha), you will conjure up every last bit of strength to give it your all (Aguerro better since he’s shagged Maradona’s daughter and has the more dubious burden of being the father to Maradona’s grandchild). And that’s what Argentina has lacked. It’s not tactical awareness or an inability to score. It’s a lack of purpose, an absence of passion that was always characteristic of the national team in Maradona’s days.

Compare the appointment of Maradona to JÃ¼rgen Klinsmann’s appointment as the German national manager prior to the 2006 World Cup. What managerial expertise did Klinsmann have? Did he manage a Bundesliga club before? Nay, an MLS club? He was a consultant for the Los Angeles Galaxy (the pre-Beckham Galaxy). Yet Klinsmann surrounded himself with qualified people. There was current German manager Joachim LÃµw, Andreas KÃµpke (goalkeeping coach), Oliver Bierhoff (striker coach) and others. Maradona has the tactical advice of Carlos Bilardo (the man who guided Argentina to the 1986 title and as runners up in 1990), a goalkeeper’s coach in Sergio Goycochea, defensive coach in Luis Brown (also part of the 1986 team), Olympic gold medal winning coach Batista and possibly Gabriel Batistuta (the top scorer for los albicelestos) and on and on. It’s not just Maradona on the bench. He’s assembled a team like Klinsmann and it’s that comparison that convinces me that this appointment isn’t just a last ditch attempt to qualify for 2010.

By: Ghost writter

Ghost writter — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:49:29 +0000

Maradona is a footballing god, some would even say the greatest of all time. But making him national manager, when you had other tried, tested and sober options. I think he should have a role in the side, maybe assistant manager or Under21 coach, just not in the hot seat.

By: Soccer pie

Soccer pie — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:39:11 +0000

I think that he could everything as a player, but I think that he won’t have to much success as a coach. His temper will be his main problem. Argentine have a great squad but they won’t take WORLD CUP 2010 with Maradona

By: Nate

Nate — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:14:32 +0000

Javier Mascherano!!!!! for captain

By: Felipe

Felipe — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:43:52 +0000

I just hope that he doesnt affect messi’s future

By: Martin Banks

Martin Banks — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:34:13 +0000

I was in Manumision (a nightclub in Ibiza) about ten years ago and at about 4am I looked up and there, leaning over the balcony of the VIP area, looking absolutely out of his tree on every drug going, was Diego Maradona. He didn’t look much like he was capable of managing to stay upright, never mind manage a World Cup winning team. I hope for his sake that he’s learnt a lot in the last decade.

Mart

By: valleesh

valleesh — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 03:28:46 +0000

He has a coach? complete screw up.
Maybe he might teach Messi how to become the new Hand of God.

By: EPL

EPL — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:47:51 +0000

Argentina Football needed a boost in their popuarity among their own fans and bringing in Maradona into the fold is going to win the AFA much needed vote of support from the Argetinian people. Even if Maradona does not make the cut im sure there are people behind him to make doubly sure his coaching tactics are a success.