Diego Maradona has taken the latest step in his nomadic managerial career by agreeing to coach Mexican second-division club Dorados.
The appointment of the Argentine legend, who last managed Al-Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates and took up a role as president of Belarus club Dinamo Brest in July, was confirmed in a statement on the Sinaloa-based club’s official website.
"Dorados of Sinaloa is pleased to announce Diego Armando Maradona is the new manager of the 'Big Fish,'" it read.
"Considered by many to be the best footballer of all time, Diego was known in his playing career for leading teams with guts and fight to carry them to successes that few believed possible.”
Dorados, currently 13th in the 15-team Mexican second tier, sacked Francisco Gamez on Thursday and club president Jorgealberto Hank Inzunza told ESPN that he wants Maradona to lead the team through the remainder of the current campaign and the entirety of next season.
“In my conversations with him he's been very excited to come coach here,” Inzunza said. “Honestly, it was easier to convince him than I thought.”
Dorados were formed in 2003. Prior to Maradona’s appointment, the most illustrious footballing name to be associated with the club was Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who spent six months with them as a player in 2006 before announcing his retirement.
The club’s home of Sinaloa is most famously associated with the drug cartel of the same name founded by kingpin Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, who was arrested by US authorities in January 2016 and is currently being detained as he awaits trial in New York.
Mexico was the scene of Maradona’s greatest career triumph when he led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, but he caused controversy in June when he claimed that the country did not deserve to host the 2026 tournament, which it was awarded along with the United States and Canada.
