Maradona would coach Napoli ´if the people want me´

Napoli great Diego Maradona admits he would be open to becoming head coach at the San Paolo in future.

The former Argentina star is a heralded figure among Napoli fans, having inspired the club to two Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Cup during a seven-year spell between 1984 and 1991.

The 58-year-old, who is still the club’s all-time top goalscorer on 115, has not held a head coaching position since leaving Al Wasl in 2012.

But the 1986 World Cup-winner says he would not turn down the chance to coach his old club if the fans desired it.

“Would I coach Napoli? If the people wanted it, then yes,” he told Amici.

Maradona said in January that he would jump at the chance to take on a role with Napoli if president Aurelio De Laurentiis makes him an offer.

He is in dispute with Italian tax authorities over an alleged debt of €39million that first came to light in 2013.

“First of all I have to sort out the problems I have here in Italy, then I can work for Napoli in Italy and in the world,” Maradona said.

“We have to do things well because I want a winning team, a team that can play on level terms against Juventus, Inter, AC Milan and Roma.”