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Maradona to Coach Argentina

'86 World Cup hero, with limited experience, takes reins next week

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 29, 2008 3:11 PM CDT

(Newser) – Soccer great Diego Maradona will take the helm of his native Argentina’s national team Tuesday, the Guardian reports. Argentina has been without a coach since mid-October, when the last coach stepped down. “I think we must make the players understand that our shirt is the most important thing, that they cannot exchange money for glory,” said Maradona, hero of the 1986 World Cup-winners.

[Images (4)]

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Maradona in tougher times, leaving a pyschiatric hospital. Maradona was addicted to drugs, sentenced to jail for shooting at reporters and punched the ball into the net in a World Cup quarterfinal. (AP Photo)

Argentina's Diego Maradona talks to reporters before leaving his house in Buenos Aires' outskirts. (AP Photo)

A still from the 1986 World Cup. (AP Photo)

In this June 29, 1986 file photo Diego Maradona of Argentina celebrates with the cup at the end of the World Cup soccer final in the Atzeca Stadium, in Mexico City. (AP Photo)

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Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal for Argentina against England in a 1986 World Cup quarter-final. (02jamesh123)

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Maradona to Coach Argentina