Coach Maradona, What You Need To Know

Still trying to get my head around the decision today by the Asociacion del Futbol Argentino to appoint Diego Maradona as the new head coach of the Argentine national team. Diego will be the manager, '86 World Champion team mate Pedro Troglio will be assistant, and '86 World Champion manager Carlos Bilardo will be the technical director. '86 World Champion team mates Julio Olarticoechea and Hector Enrique will also be part of the staff. Terry Butcher and Felix Magath declined to participate.

So here's what you need to know.

1. Maradona can not enter the USA or Australia on account of his past drug conviction. Argentina had a friendly in the works for this year in the United States and has announced that game will be put on hold while they try to sort out a visa that was rejected a few years ago.

2. 80% of Argentines polled today by Infobae news agency are against the appointment. An overwhelming majority wanted former Boca manager Carlos Bianchi who has been unemployed since his less than successful stint at Atletico Madrid in '06. The majority of the poll respondents believe Maradona is not prepared to be manager. Oddly enough, Bilardo is getting positive reception to his return to the national team staff.

3. The team has talent at every position. There is no doubt of that. The one thing this team does lack is motivation, a leader on the field who thrives on adversity. Instead, we have Riquelme and Messi clashing over who is in charge instead of living up to the leadership obligated by their talent. Maradona may, or may not, be able to contribute that dose of national aspiration.

4. Maradona's daughter's baby daddy is Sergio Aguero.

5. Maradona has had a rocky relationsihp with AFA president Julio Grondona, who sees Maradona as a troubled son. The type of relationship that seems capable of snapping at any moment. Yet at AFA they feel confident Diego is as ready as ever (ie: sober as ever) to take on this challenge, and while not a popular decision today, Maradona is still wildly popular.

6. Maradona had two stints as manager, first at struggling Mandiyu in 1994. While serving a world-wide ban for drugs, Diego was brought on to help Mandiyu avoid relegation. He wasn't able to change their fortunes and quit a few months before their eventual drop. Mandiyu defender Guido Alvarenga: "I can't say for sure we trained under Maradona, but we had some spectacular bar-b-que's!" One win, 5 draws and 6 defeats and he was gone. Months later he would try his hand at managing one of the big teams in Buenos Aires, Racing Club. Here he would only win two matches, draw 6 and lose 5. Again he didn't see out the season and was gone before Racing finished 6th overall.

7. Maradona had to do community service after firing an air rifle at reporters from his home. Let's hope results go his way as head coach and those post-game press conferences don't turn into a shooting gallery with the local media.

8. Maradona recently hosted his own variety show which ended up being one of the highest rated TV programs ever in Argentina.

9. Maradona has said the most important player on the national team right now is Javier Mascherano. That's old school thinking, and I like it. He may hand Masche the captain's armband. Who's in? He'll probably add some of the domestic league talents like Bergessio and maybe a return of Veron(we may be in for more trouble than I thought!). Who's out? Zanetti & Heinze. Both have had poor showings for Argentina, and while Zanetti is an icon, his time is probably up.

10. Maradona is the 10. He is a symbol who has been reborn in the past few years after his gastric bypass and relative sobriety. Only time will tell if this crazy circus will work.

My verdict: There is too much talent to chose from for Argentina not to qualify for the World Cup, regardless of the manager. If there is no improvement over the Basile games, look for a frustrated Maradona to find a reason to quit and Bianchi will take over.