Diego Maradona was appointed as Argentine national team head coach Tuesday evening.  That was the best birthday present that he could have received.  The obsession with Maradona has reached a new level.   From the outside looking in, there is very little logic to it.  On the inside with some logic it’s senseless.

What people don’t understand outside of Argentina is that Diego doesn’t score goals.  El Diego cures cancer.  El Diego cures AIDS.  El Diego can solve the economic crisis.  El Diego can end world hunger.  Diego

To some in Argentina, his cloak of superhuman infallability will lead them to the Promised Land that he got them to 22 years ago.   Others are just waiting for the other shoe to drop.   Others know the truth and that is that the others will do the work while he will go about addressing the media either as an attack dog or public relations guru.

The situation in which Maradona comes is quite unique.  According to many it resembles the Brazilian models of when Carlos Alberto Parreira or Luiz Felipe Scolari when they had individuals like Mario Zagallo by their side.  Argentina will have some of Maradona’s teammate from that ’86 side there along with former coach Carlos Bilardo by his side.

Players relate to El Diego.   Lionel Messi said in an interview the other day that his mother “dreamed of seeing Maradona coaching me.”   Maradona can hug his players, he can coddle them, and he will understand them.  The problem will be if Julio Grondona will.