Diego Maradona ‘would have gone to China’ as player, nearly did as coach
- ‘I want a job,’ Argentine great told Chinese Football Association in 2012 after being linked to China national team job
- Legend blasted Juan Roman Riquelme for criticism of Carlos Tevez signing for Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua
Chinese football fans have joined those around the world in paying tributes to Diego Maradona but their relationship with the Argentine legend could have been even closer if Maradona had got his way.
The Fifa World Cup winner tried to become the head coach of China’s national team on more than one occasion while the Argentine great also defended those players who moved to the Chinese Super League, saying he would have done the same.
Maradona, who died on Thursday aged 60, publicly courted the Chinese Football Association in an effort to give him the national team job.
On more than one occasion the Fifa World Cup winner was linked with coaching roles in China and Maradona himself fuelled those flames.
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Chinese fans pay last respects to legendary footballer, Diego Maradona
“I would like to coach in China,” he said in August, 2012, on his arrival at Bejing’s Capital International Airport, just after being sacked by Dubai side Al Wasl. “I wish to contribute to the development of China‘s soccer youth,” he added.
