Argentina legend Diego Maradona has informed Aston Villa he would be willing to take over the Villa Park hotseat.
Ajax boss Martin Jol and USA coach Bob Bradley have been linked with the West Midlands club - but Maradona believes he could be the man to lead them this season.
"I think Diego would be very open to the idea of coming to England and managing Aston Villa," his official European representative, Walter Soriano, told the Sunday Mercury.
"He is very attracted to English football and the way of life in your country and I know he would be very willing to move there.
"He loves the English countryside and your respect for privacy, so he would be very happy there, especially at a big club like Aston Villa."
Maradona left his post of Argentina coach in acrimonious circumstances last month, having impressed at the World Cup until La Albiceleste were smashed 4-0 by Germany in the quarter-finals.
Soriano added: "If the owner Randy Lerner wants to make him a serious offer, I am sure he would get a very positive response.
"Diego is currently talking with a number of clubs in Europe – including another one in England – about a management role and is looking at his options carefully."
Maradona has had a chequered football career. Regarded as one of the all-time great players alongside Pele, he suffered from alcohol and drug problems later - culminating in him being thrown out of the 1994 World Cup in the USA.
He struggled in a few coaching posts before emerging from a stomach-stapling operation in 2007 slimmer and healthier than he had been for years.
He then just managed to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa, before surprising many with his team's flamboyant and goal-happy performances at the finals.
Maradona in the english football....Well why not ? I'm an "argie" and I think that would be very good to see him in england. I don't know if villa will survive.
ReplyDeleteMaradona, one of the players most hated in England for punching a goal in the 86 world cup against England, who's first match as a manager of argentina was against Scotland talked sh!t about England's 66 W.C. final and the goal that he believed shouldn't have been one, wants to come and Manage Villa? He was a complete Clown in the World Cup, Villa needs a Ringmaster, not a clown surrounded by an entourage of 'advisers.' Say no to him.
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