As El Diego trades in his party lifestyle for the white lines of the technical area, I went in search of the people who his appointment will affect the most, the fans.
The beers are flowing in a blue and white corner of West London and everybody is more than happy to talk about "the biggest thing to come out of Argentina since the tango.’" Nobody, however, is chatting about founding a church in honor of Terry Butcher.
Federico Macri sits awaiting the on screen arrival of the man who gave him the greatest moment of his life, when Diego lifted the World Cup in Mexico 22 years ago. No mean feat on Maradona’s part, Federico is only 19.
“He is simply the greatest player the world has ever seen, he was at the centre of a great period of Argentinian football. Winners in 1986 and runners-up in 1990, true moments of glory for our nation.” Gushes young Federico.
Should Diego’s appointment really surprise us? Should anything to do with the pint-sized marvel surprise anyone anymore? His latest post is far more comprehendible to the amassed Argentinian throng than giving a foreign coach the run for the national team. Sebastian Folino explains that while Diego would not have been his first choice, it is a far more palatable decision than hiring a foreigner.
“It’s unthinkable to employ a foreign coach. I try not to judge Maradona but he’s not a great example for the people, I don’t think he is the right person for the job. However, with Argentines in the top jobs in our league there’s plenty of other candidates before going abroad. It’s impossible, it’s like in Italy or Spain, you would not get a foreigner in charge.” That’s me said Folino, mind you if it means beating Germany I’ll live with it for now.
Diego’s press conferences may not have been the circus that many expected but he has still shown that a single gesticulation or raised eyebrow can cut straight through an interpreter to get his point across. No wonder the nation’s press clamour of a piece of him having grown accustom to the dour speculate of Fabio/Steve/Sven dribbling into a microphone for half hour intervals at a time.
The calm assuredness Maradona carries himself gives a nod to the Roy Keane school of management. Whether it be giving simple straight forward answers whilst under provocation to revert to his on-pitch persona, or sitting snug with his arms folded under a Tennants Lager advertising hoarding while the game unfolds.
It was at one of Keane’s old stomping grounds this week that Maradona gave us a rare recent glimpse of him at his eccentric and mesmerising best. Pausing a training session to get down on his hands and knees to help retrieve Fernando Gago’s Saint Christopher medallion. The item was eventually found by 13-year-old Celtic trainee Adam Brown who was hoisted aloft by the same arms that got their hands on the World Cup in 1986. This moment gave Glasgow yet another fond memory of Maradona after the city witnessed his first international goal 34 years earlier.
After the match, in which he twisted up such heavyweights as Alan Hansen, Kenny Dalglish and John Wark, high praise came from Jock Stein, “He’s 5ft 5in but he’s 12ft tall on talent.”
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