Maradona lands with Big Fish in Mexico
CULIAC, Mexico — Argentine legend Diego Maradona has been hired to coach Mexican second-division club Dorados Big Fish, the team announced on Thursday.
Maradona’s colorful career has included stints coaching the Argentine national team and a series of clubs around the world, and he had just started a job as president of Belarus side Dinamo Brest in July.
But after parting ways with coach Francisco Ramirez Gamez, Dorados managed to convince Maradona to sign up for a spell in Mexico.
“Dorados of Sinaloa is pleased to announce Diego Armando Maradona is the new manager of the Big Fish,” the club said in a statement.
“Considered by many to be the best footballer of all time, Diego was known in his playing career for leading teams with guts and fight and carrying them to successes that few believed possible,” it said.
The club wants Maradona, 57, to stay for the remainder of this season and all of next season, Dorados president Jorgealberto Hank Inzunza told ESPN.
“In my conversations with him he’s been very excited to come here to coach. Honestly, it was easier to convince him than I thought it would be,” Inzunza said.
The club first confirmed rumors of Maradona’s hiring with a brief online video that was posted on Thursday morning.
“Diego, welcome to the Big Fish!” said a message accompanying the video.
Dorados is currently in 13th place in the 15-team league.
Located on Mexico’s Pacific coast, Sinaloa is home to several famous beach resorts and the drug cartel of the same name, founded by jailed kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
Maradona himself is no stranger to drug controversies. He was hit with two doping bans as a player, and has publicly battled addiction, alcoholism and obesity.
Mexico was the scene of Maradona’s greatest triumph: leading Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title. And two moments during that tournament neatly established what made him both controversial and great.
The first was his infamous “hand of God” goal in Argentina’s quarterfinal victory over England, in which he punched the ball into the net but avoided a penalty because the referee did not see it.
The second came four minutes later, when Maradona completed an electrifying dash that saw him beat the entire English defense before scoring what would go on to be voted “the goal of the century.”
But Maradona has sometimes had a touchy relationship with Mexico. In June he said the country did not deserve to host the 2026 World Cup, which it was awarded in a three-way bid with the United States and Canada.