Diego Maradona was fired as manager of United Arab Emirates club Al Wasl on Tuesday. The announcement made waves around the world, as the legendary former player suffered the indignity of dismissal for the second time since 2010.
Maradona’s time in the country will be remembered for the giant shadow his presence cast over the modest, but ambitious, U.A.E. Pro League. He made plenty of headlines, but they were rarely for anything concerning Al Wasl’s on-field performance.
The Argentine was an iconic player, winning trophies at clubs in three countries. His exploits in the blue and white jersey of his national team — including winning the 1986 FIFA World Cup — earned him the nickname “Dios” or “God.”
But the managerial hot-seat has not been as kind to Maradona as the field of play was. He was sensationally hired to lead Argentina to the 2010 World Cup, and took his country to South Africa. But Argentina was routed by Germany in the quarterfinal, and Maradona was relieved of his duties shortly after the tournament.
In May 2011, Al Wasl gave him a chance to rebuild his reputation. His arrival was met with much acclaim, including a mysteriously catchy theme song. Maradona in Dubai was supposed to herald a bright new era in Al Wasl’s history — one that would include trophies and big-name players. But it ended after 14 trophyless months.
Who knows in what direction the club is headed? It has not named a replacement. Maradona will likely leave Dubai, but his next destination is anyone’s guess.
Listen to Maradona’s U.A.E. theme song (and see some of his highlights) in the video below.
Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.
