Maradona lands UAE coaching role

Diego Maradona is back in coaching after being appointed as boss of United Arab Emirates club Al Wasl on Monday.

The Argentine legend has been out of the managerial caper since leading the national team to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in South Africa, where they lost 4-0 to Germany to be knocked out in the last eight.

Al Wasl sit fourth domestically with five games remaining and have been in search of a new boss since sacking Brazilian Sergio Farias last month.

Chairman Marwan Bin Bayat said Maradona, who has signed a two-year deal, could help the Dubai-based club reach new heights.

“Al Wasl Sports Club has become synonymous with achievements of this calibre and we are very pleased to be welcoming Maradona to a long line of accolades in the club’s history,” Bin Bayat said in a statement.

“This partnership embodies the vision of the club as it embraces forward thinking developments in the region to establish unprecedented standards for the sport.”

Maradona captained Argentina to victory at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico before announcing his retirement in 1997.

After managing roles with Deportivo Mandiyu and Racing Club in 1994 and 1995, he was announced national team boss in 2008 before his contract was not renewed following the quarter-final appearance in South Africa.

He joins Italy’s World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro in the UAE with the defender at fellow Dubai-based club Al Ahli.

Al Ahli was managed by former Leeds United and Aston Villa boss David O’Leary before he was sacked last month.