See how Diego Maradona rocks up to work in his new role as chairman of Dinamo Brest

Fresh from creating a stir at the World Cup Diego Maradona arrived in Belarus on Monday to begin the latest chapter in his colourful career.

Argentina's 1986 World Cup winner insisted that his new role as chairman of Premier League side Dinamo Brest was "very serious" and said he hoped his presence would help the country's sport "get better every day".

His arrival, in typical over-the-top fashion in a military-style open-top car, failed to have the desired impact though as Maradona's first match in his new role at Brest saw the side suffer a 3-1 home defeat against fourth-placed Shakhtyor.

Speaking before the game, in which the 57-year-old former Argentina national team and Al Wasl manager was given a rapturous welcome by Dinamo Brest supporters, Maradona also expressed a wish to meet authoritarian Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

"I have very good memories of Fidel Castro, [Hugo] Chavez and [Muammar] Gaddafi and I also know [Vladimir] Putin," the former Argentina No 10 said at a news conference, listing late leaders of Cuba, Venezuela and Libya and the current Russian president.

"Now I want to do a photograph with Lukashenko," he said of the former collective farm boss who has ruled the ex-Soviet state with an iron grip since 1994.

"I hope after that he will become our fan," he added, speaking Spanish in translated comments.

Lukashenko is better known as an avid ice hockey player.

Maradona signed a three-year contract with his new employers during a presentation at the Emirates Palace Hotel in May. It followed an acrimonious split with UAE first division club Fujairah a month earlier, after failing to guide the club to promotion to the Arabian Gulf League despite going the entire season in Division One undefeated.

Dinamo Brest are sixth in the table just before the halfway point in the Belarusian Premier League season.

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The Argentine spoke of his desire to settle in Belarus, which is sandwiched between Russia and Ukraine and EU members Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, saying he did not fear the cold.

"When I was small, I had no shoes and I walked barefoot. So I'm not afraid of snow. I can live in Belarus without any problems," said Maradona, who grew up in a shantytown.

He also said he was planning to learn Russian.

"We'll try to create a team that will battle for the best places," said the former Ballon d'Or winner whose infamous "Hand of God" goal against England helped Argentina win the 1986 World Cup.

Pictures: Maradona's roller-coaster of emotions during match against Nigeria

Diego Maradona celebrates Argentina's victory over Nigeria at Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 26, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Alex Morton / Getty Images

One of the greatest players of all-time, he became an increasing subject of ridicule at the World Cup in Russia.

He made an obscene gesture from the VIP box to celebrate Argentina's dramatic 2-1 win over Nigeria which sent them into the last 16, drawing plenty of criticism.

Even after his country's exit at the hands of France, he managed to keep himself in the limelight claiming that he would turn the team's fortunes around if named coach, and then being rebuked by Fifa after ranting about the officials following Colombia's loss to England.

See how Diego Maradona rocks up to work in his new role as chairman of Dinamo Brest - in pictures

His arrival, in typical over-the-top fashion in a military-style open-top car for the team's match on Monday failed to have the desired impact