Maradona not to coach France's Montpellier

Reigning French Ligue 1 champions Montpellier Hérault Sport Club have decided not to sign Argentinian Diego Armando Maradona as their club coach from next season onwards.

Montpellier president Louis Nicollin had revealed last week that he was in talks with Maradona to become the Ligue 1 clubs new coach in place of René Girard, but talks broke down and Nicollin announced today there would be no deal.

"No, Maradona will not come to Montpellier. There are too many agents involved in this affair for my liking," Nicollin told French paper L'Equipe.

"It's all a bit of a mess and I have had enough of it. Not of Maradona, but of all the agents involved. The entire story is giving me a headache," he added.

Maradona, one of the best players of all times, has been struggling as a coach since ending his playing career.

UAE's Al Wasl fire coach Diego Maradona

Ambitious Dubai-based Al Wasl FC, who play in the United Arab Emirates Football League, have fired their coach Argentinian Diego Armando Maradona after only a year in charge at the club. In May 2011 Maradona had signed a two year contract with the aim of winning trophies and titles, but it didn't work out.

"Following a meeting held today to evaluate the technical staff of Al Wasl football team under the leadership of coach Diego Maradona, it was decided to terminate his services and his technical staff," the board said in its official statement.

Al Wasl had finished a disappointing eighth in the 12 team UAE Pro League in the 2011/12 season, down two places from sixth a season earlier; but under Maradona the club didn't progress though getting more coverage due to their high profile coach.

The club management had resigned earlier to the failure and now the new management has fired former World Cup winner as a player Maradona along with his coaching staff to look for a restart under a new coach.

The failure at Al Wasl is another chapter in the coaching career of Maradona. It started at Mandiyu and Racing Club in his home country in 1994 and 1995 before taking over as Argentina coach in 2008 for a couple of years.

Maradona to coach Dubai's Al Wasl

Dubai based Al Wasl FC, who play in the United Arab Emirates Football League, confirmed yesterday afternoon in an official statement that Maradona would be their new coach.

The club statement said, "Al Wasl Sports Club is proud to announce the appointment of Diego Armando Maradona as head coach of Al Wasl Football Club, in a momentous development that will see the football legend lead the team for the next two seasons."

Maradona was in Dubai over the weekend to work out contract details, see the club and their facilities before agreeing to sign a contract. He would be unveiled at a press conference early next month and has signed a two year contract which starts next season. Currently the club is fourth in the UAE league.

"The value of the contract is worthy of the stature and reputation of the great legend," said Marwan Bin Bayat, chairman of Al Wasl FC.

For the 50 year old Argentinian this is the first assignment after his unceremonious exit as Argentina coach following the 4-0 trashing at the hands of Germany at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. And though Maradona has been linked with a number of coaching jobs over the last 10 months, he now takes on a new task in a difficult surroundings.

The owners in the UAE with all their wealth do not give time to big names to deliver as they want instant results. For Maradona it won't be an easy task as also there will be a lot of critical eyes watching him.

Maradona to coach Iran?

Diego Armando Maradona since being fired as Argentina coach in the summer after the 0-4 defeat against Germany in the 2010 FIFA World Cup has been linked with numerous coaching jobs or has himself shown interest in taking up the role with some national teams or club sides.

But the most curious of all links so far came out of Iran yesterday. Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was asked by the media if Maradona was coming to the country, which the president confirmed and when a journalist asked if Maradona would take charge of the national side Ahmadinejad noded which was interpreted by the local media as a yes. If there is any truth in the story one will have to wait and see.

Maradona over the last few weeks has been linked to a number of coaching jobs. While he was a guest in China it was speculated that he could either be named China coach or the manager of a Chinese club side, while he himself said only last week that he would love to coach his home town club of Boca Juniors.

But Maradona as Iran coach would surely give the upcoming 2011 AFC Asian Cup in January in Qatar an additional flavour. If it would help Iran's cause would have to be seen. And we need to wait for a statement from Maradona, if he would be interested in the Iran job.

And if you look at such a deal politically then Maradona could be an explosive addition to Iran's arsenal. It is known Maradona is friends with Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, while being critical of the United States and their allies. So Iran might be an interesting destination for Diego...