Maradona keen to coach in China
Reuters - Wednesday 15 August 2012, 03:40
Argentine great Diego Maradona has
underlined his desire to coach in China after arriving in the
country for an eight-day charity trip, local media reported.
The 51-year-old, Argentina's head coach at the 2010 World
Cup, was sacked by United Arab Emirates club Al Wasl last month
but appears keen on a job in the Far East.
"I would like to coach in China," Maradona told a news
conference in Beijing, the China Daily reported. "I wish to
contribute to the development of China's youth football."
One of Maradona's coterie of agents had sounded out the
Chinese earlier this year with a view of eventually landing the
national team job, the newspaper said.
During his visit, Maradona, who led his country to the 1986
World Cup as a player and is regarded as one of the game's
greatest ever, will holds talks with Chinese FA boss Wei Di.
A controversial figure who has suffered serious health
issues and overcome drug addiction, Maradona was fired as
Argentina coach after losing 4-0 to Germany in the
quarter-finals of the 2010 tournament.
Chinese football has seen an influx of big-name foreign
players and coaches, including Sergio Batista, the man who took
over the Argentina job from Maradona, now coach of Shanghai
Shenhua.
The big-spending Chinese Super League club boast former
Chelsea strikers Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba, while other
clubs have also been splashing the cash.
Shanghai's rivals Guangzhou Evergrande appointed Italy's
former World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi.