2010 FIFA World Cup: Diego Maradona and Argentina defy their critics
Last November, Argentina head coach Diego Maradona was banned from football for two months after directing an expletive-filled tirade towards his critics during a press conference.
Having been subjected to months of people claiming he wasn’t up to the job of managing the national team in the weeks and months before the Albicelestes eventually secured qualification to the World Cup finals, the outspoken legend let his doubters know exactly what he thought of them.
Despite El Diego’s ill-advised, rather harsh words, it didn’t stop the same critics from writing off the two-time world champions in the build-up to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
Across the globe, many held the view that Maradona’s inexperience as a coach would be cruelly exposed on the world stage, and that Argentina would be heading for an early exit from the tournament even with the likes of Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain in the squad.
Few could argue against their case. Maradona had earned a reputation for being wholly unreliable for interviews, had struggled with a whole host of personal addictions, was sent home from the 1990 World Cup in disgrace after taking drugs and had came close to a premature death on two separate occasions. Oh, and he’d hosted his own chat show where he interviewed Pele, Mike Tyson and the elusive Fidel Castro among others.
And as for his career as a manager, the less said about that the better. From his 12 matches in charge of Textil Mandiyú in 1994 and then 11 games with Racing Club in 1995, Maradona experienced the thrill of victory just three times.
When the AFA announced that he would be the man to replace Alfio Basile in 2008, it was understandably met by widespread bemusement. How could an individual as controversial as Diego Armando Maradona possibly manage the Argentina national side? He could barely manage to keep himself in check, let alone a squad of 23 players at a World Cup finals.
However, thanks to a combination of raw passion, unique motivational techniques, pride in his players and all things Argentina along with a willingness to learn from his backroom staff, things could hardly be rosier for the iconic Argentinean right now.
Maradona’s side have helped light up this summer’s World Cup finals with a series of impressive performances; but it’s the coach himself who’s become the star of the show – naturally.
Donning the now famous grey suit from the sidelines during every match, the cameras are poised, ready and waiting for the 49-year-old’s next move. Whether he’s nervously patrolling his technical area, waving his arms frantically towards the pitch, embracing his players or jubilantly celebrating a goal with anyone within 10 metres of him, Maradona is pure box office – and he knows it.
His passion for the national team is evident. He may not have been the most qualified or clean-cut former hero to take on such a huge challenge; but management really appears to have put Maradona on the straight and narrow, and all parties concerned have benefitted.
Now in the quarter-finals against Germany, El Diego has an incredible chance to seal a World Cup semi-final spot at his first ever attempt at international management.
With the tactical nous of his assistants - Carlos Bilardo, Héctor Enrique and best friend Alejandro Mancuso – at his beck and call in South Africa, Maradona has a wealth of knowledge to call upon and learn from.
Of course, this may be a key reason why Argentina have fared so well up to now this summer, but all the final decisions still go through the main man who must be paid his dues – and if he doesn’t like something, he’ll soon let his staff know.
This was demonstrated in the 2-0 win over Greece in the group stages, when his assistants suggested that Higuain should be substituted on in a bid to ensure all three points were secured. At 1-0 ahead, it might have sounded foolish to gamble on their sage advice.
Instead of bringing on the spritely Real Madrid striker, who’d scored a hat-trick in the previous group match against South Korea, Maradona sent on 36-year-old Martin Palermo – a forward who’d spent a decade in the international wilderness before the appointment of El Diego.
“I told Palermo, ‘get out there and finish the game off for me’," said Maradona in the press conference after the match.
Having only been on the pitch for 10 minutes, Palermo became the oldest player to score in Argentina’s history with an 89th minute goal, securing a 2-0 victory and maximum points.
“I think all of our substitutions paid off,” confidently added the charismatic coach.
Even Maradona’s fiercest critics must have been won over by the diminutive former great over the course of this World Cup. He arrives off the team coach singing and dancing, has nothing but support and praise for his players and puts on a show of his own from inside the stadium.
He’s been a joy to watch. And neutrals – including those who’s nations have been eliminated from the finals – will now be hoping that Argentina, with their exemplary team ethic, go on to lift their third World Cup under the man who continues to bring joy to the millions around the world who love football.
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