Fans ecstatic over Maradona’s arrival in Mexico
CULIACAN: Diego Maradona arrived to a hero’s welcome in Mexico on Saturday, as the new technical director of second division side Dorados, landing in the relative footballing outpost of Culiacan.
“Welcome Golden God! Thank you God, thank you Maradona!” read one of the placards held by fans greeting him at the Culiacan airport.
Maradona didn’t speak to any of the fans welcoming him, as he was whisked off to meet his new players.
The 57-year-old may have been one of the greatest ever players, leading Argentina to World Cup success in Mexico in 1986, but his new and humble surroundings are more in keeping with an inglorious record as a coach.
“When someone like Maradona comes here it’s more due to his interest than for economic offers,” said Jose Antonio Nunez, president of a club whose owners, the Hank family, have been accused of links to Mexico’s lucrative and violent drug-trafficking industry.
“He knows what it’s like to start from the bottom, he knows the value of a lower league.”
Dorados Fans, whose team has yet to win a match this season, seem little concerned by Maradona’s coaching credentials: his last job was for Al Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates second division.
Maradona has been making all the right noises.
“Happy for this new work opportunity. Happy to return to the land where I was world champion and where I retain very happy memories,” he wrote on Instagram.
“I want to tell you that I’m approaching this new stage with humility.”
Maradona’s signing, as replacement for Mexican Francisco Ramírez, was announced on Thursday.
He will be officially presented today as technical director, but won’t take control of a match until September 17.
Despite his new coaching role, Maradona will remain honorary president of Belarusian club Dinamo Brest, a post he’s held since July, his lawyer said.
Maradona arrived at a club which is in the state made notorious by the Sinaloa drug cartel of jailed kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
Maradona has admitted to struggling with drug addiction in the past and once served a ban during his playing days for taking cocaine.