On more than one occasion the Fifa World Cup winner was linked with coaching roles in China and Maradona himself fuelled those flames.
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Chinese fans pay last respects to legendary footballer, Diego Maradona
Chinese fans pay last respects to legendary footballer, Diego Maradona
“I would like to coach in China,” he said in August, 2012, on his arrival at Bejing’s Capital International Airport, just after being sacked by Dubai side Al Wasl. “I wish to contribute to the development of China‘s soccer youth,” he added.
That May, one of Maradona’s agents, Tang Huiqing, told the Chinese media that Maradona wanted to be China’s head coach and on that August trip Maradona also met with Chinese FA vice president Wei Di to push his case.
In that meeting Wei asked the Argentine what support he wanted and Maradona was clear: “I want a job”.
Wei had downplayed that possibility on Maradona’s arrival. ”We‘ve signed Camacho for three years. So let’s wait till then to see,” he said of Spanish coach Jose Antonio Camacho who had been appointed head coach of the Chinese national team on a three year deal starting in 2012.
The CFA courted Maradona for a role in youth development and he played up China’s potential.
“Uruguay has less then 5 million people,” Maradona told the Chinese press. ”But they have made an excellent team. China has such a large population so surely a great team can be built.”
At the time Maradona was also linked with the head coaches job at Shenzhen Ruby, who were then in the Chinese second tier.
It would not be the last time that Maradona was linked to working in Chinese football.
In March, 2017, his lawyer Matias Morla said that Maradona was in talks to become an advisor to the Chinese FA.
The talks followed Carlos Tevez moving from Maradona’s former club Boca Juniors to Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.
“The same people who took Carlos Tevez to China are very interested in having Diego and we already gave the OK. The meetings are more than advanced,” Morla told Argentine newspaper Diario Popular.
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At the time, Maradona was employed by Emirati side Fujairah as their head coach.
“Diego would be in charge of teaching children in the different schools, it is a very important project and that without doubt could mark a before and after in a power like China,” he said.
“Maradona is excited about that possibility but there are steps to follow.
“First we have to go to Dubai and raise the situation to see how the contract is terminated and then start closing China. But things are on track and I see them in a very good way.”
That did not happen. of course, but Maradona would remain outspoken on the appeal of China and why Tevez made the move to the CSL.
“The fans of Boca should thank him for coming back,” Maradona told sports newspaper Ole in January, 2017, referring to Tevez returning to the Buenos Aires side from Italian giants Juventus two summers earlier. “But it is time that money goes to a player, and not a manager or businessman,” Maradona continued.
The Argentine great also called out fellow Boca No10 Juan Roman Riquelme, who had been critical of Tevez moving to China.
“If China had offered 50 million dollars to Riquelme, he would be speaking Chinese today.
“Carlitos [Tevez] did not defraud or scam anybody. He simply got an amazing offer and he has nothing to feel bad about. Riquelme and Maradona would have done the same.”
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