El Pibe de Oro

The late Sir Alf Ramsey once said ‘Pele had nearly everything. Maradona has everything. He works hard, does more and is more skillful. Trouble is that he’ll be remembered for another reason. He bends the rules to suit himself.’ This pretty much sums up the career of the Golden Boy of Argentinean football who now looks set to become the new national team coach of his native country. It seems that the appointment will be made in the next couple days and this decision of the National Federation has surprised the football World.

As soon as Alfio Basile decided to resign from the position as coach of Argentina after the defeat from Chile in the World Cup qualifiers, Maradona stated that he would like to become Basile’s successor but hardly anybody believed that he would be given the chance to lead one of the best national teams in the World. Considering that Maradona practically has no coaching experience the chiefs of Argentinean football have taken a major gamble in appointing El Pibe as the new coach.

Even though some of you might not agree with me, Maradona is the greatest ever football player and certainly the most exciting one. He did great things for Argentinean football and maybe this is the way of repaying him. He did wonders on the football pitch and two goals against England will be remembered for a long time. This happened in the quarter-final match of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico that Argentina won 2:1. Maradona scored the first goal using his fist, thus outsmarting 185 cm tall keeper Peter Shilton, as El Pibe was 165 cm ‘short’ at the time. The referee didn’t see this and the goal stood. The goal was later nicknamed the Hand of God, while Maradona became the hero of Argentina. His second goal was even more brilliant, as he eluded five England players and keeper Shilton to score what was later voted as the Goal of the Century.

While Maradona was brilliant player, he was also known for bending the rules and you are all aware of his problems with using drugs. After the long fight with addiction, El Pibe has managed to emerge victorious and his health is now very good. If there was ever the time for him to become the coach Argentina, it is now.

Even though he clearly lacks coaching experience he will have the support of the whole nation and certainly the players and no doubt that he will have excellent coaching staff. His motivation is enormous and his love for Argentina national team is also great. Just take one look at him when he watches his Boca Juniors and you will see his passion for football. Maybe all this can compensate for the lack of experience and we will just have to give him time and reserve judgment at least until the end of the qualifying campaign.

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