Diego Maradona lands managerial job at Dubai club

Football legend and ex-Argentina national team manager Diego Maradona has formally agreed to manage Dubai-based club Al Wasl on a two-year basis.

Though terms of Maradona's contract were not disclosed, it is believed that the legendary World Cup winner will take charge of the United Arab Emirates side on a two-season contract.

The 50-year-old's last managerial gig was for the Argentina national side, an 18-month journey that ended in ignominious failure at the 2010 World Cup following a 4-0 quarter final drubbing.

"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," read a club statement regarding the appointment.

FIFA Player of the Century Maradona has been greeted with mild scepticism by local TV Kefah al Kaabi analyst, who admitted that “Maradona is here to make some international headlines for the club and the country, which is good."

“I doubt if he will stay as a coach with an Emirati club. He is a moody character and can change his mind an hour later. Such is his reputation.”

Club chairman Marwan Bin Bayat, who held negotiations with Maradona in Dubai at the weekend, said: “Al Wasl Sports Club has become synonymous with achievements of this calibre, and we are very pleased to be welcoming Maradona to a long line of accolades in the club’s history.

"This partnership embodies the vision of the club as it embraces forward thinking developments in the region to establish unprecedented standards for the sport.”

Following the country's departure at the hands of Germany, the Argentinean Football Association decided not to renew Maradona's contract, appointing his former team-mate Sergio Batista instead.