Diego Maradona has said he will treat the UAE First Division “like it was the best in the world” as he attempts to guide Fujairah back to the Arabian Gulf League next season.
The Argentine was confirmed as the new Fujairah manager on a one-year contract on Sunday, ending nearly five years out of management.
Maradona’s last managerial position was at Al Wasl, another club in the UAE, although one in the country’s top flight.
Given that Fujairah currently compete in the second tier of UAE football, and Maradona’s enduring status within football, the appointment came as a surprise. However, the former Argentina manager has said he will embrace the challenge.
“I liked the project and especially the team, who were one point away from being promoted. That means that the spine of the team is a solid one. Now it will be time to work with them and recharge the batteries,” Maradona, 56, told Fifa.com. In fact Fujairah finished nine points off the promotion.
“I’m not afraid of the challenge. It’s the opposite in fact. I am really excited. I cannot wait to meet the players and see how they train, how they eat, how they hit the ball.
“It’s a new challenge in a smaller league, although I’ll treat it like it was the best in the world.”
Diego Maradona told us about his newest challenge: a coaching role with @Fuj_FC in the UAE pic.twitter.com/7jp8EjxrtB
Regarded as one of the finest footballers in history, Maradona’s greatest achievement was captaining Argentina to the 1986 Fifa World Cup crown, when he was credited for almost single-handedly lifting his country to the trophy.
He also played an integral role in Napoli twice winning Italy’s Serie A, in the 1986/87 and 1989/90 seasons. Maradona managed the Argentina national team for almost two years from 2008, guiding them to the 2010 World Cup, where they lost 4-0 to Germany in the quarter-finals.
* The National staff
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