Diego Maradona wants Rafa Benitez’s job at Napoli

Diego Maradona has admitted he wants to make a return to management and has set his sights on one day coaching Napoli.

Maradona is currently working here in the UAE as a global Ambassador of the Dubai Sports Council – a position he has held since September 2012. By his standards, that kind of tenure merits a medal for long service.

Prior to his current role, Maradona’s most recent managerial position was at Arabian Gulf League club Al Wasl, where the 52-year-old spent an eventful 2011-12 season in charge before being fired. .

Maradona enjoys legendary status among Napoli fans, in part because he led the club to their only league titles in 1987 and 1990, but mainly because such success was achieved whilst he was consuming vast amounts of cocaine on a nightly basis.

“When Benitez leaves I would like to take over at Napoli,” said Maradona, who claimed he was currently unemployed as a coach because people fear him.

“Coaches are changing all over the place, from Spain to Italy, England to Russia. But there are people who are afraid of me. That’s why I’m not coaching.”

And not because of your unending record of coaching failure?

It is hard to imagine there will be a club owner brave or foolhardy enough to employ Maradona as a coach. But, in a world where Mark Hughes remains in gainful employment, anything is possible