Thank you UAE, says Maradona after joining Fujairah club

Maradona, one of the greatest players of all-time, was officially unveiled as the coach of First Division club Fujairah FC

Argentina legend Diego Maradona said that he was indebted to the UAE when he was going through troubled times and added that he will forever remain a servant of the country's football.
Maradona, one of the greatest players of all-time, was officially unveiled as the coach of First Division club Fujairah FC, in Fujairah on Sunday afternoon.
The 56-year-old was handed a one-year contract with the option of an extension.
It marks a return to football management after a five-year absence for Maradona, who previously coached Dubai-based Al Wasl in 2011-12 and Argentina from 2008 to 2010.
"I had received many other offers but as I said, I'm the son of Dubai and the son of the UAE," Maradona said at the Press conference.
"And I hope I can continue the same path in Fujairah, as I did in Dubai. There are other places around the world, but this place is close to my heart. I will work very strongly and make sure Fujairah become an unbeatable team. Mentally, we are very strong. This house has become my house now," he added.
Maradona, who guided Argentina to the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, revealed that he was missing football and had found the hunger to get back to coaching again.
"The factors which made me accept coaching here is that I missed the stadium and football. I wanted to work hands on and not just watch it on TV. I want to feel again how it is to manage a team. When I was in Argentina, before coming to Dubai, China too presented me some offers. But my response was I'm indebted to these people who employed me," he said.
"The UAE saved me and they opened doors when all the other doors were closed and they provided opportunities. For me, it is not just about money. It is about football. I hope to transfer my experience to the players. We have to start working from now," he added.
Personally as well, Maradona said that he wants to show his son Diego Fernando and grandson Benjamin that he can be as good a coach as he was as a player.
"Benjamin and Diego couldn't see how great I was as a player. But I hope they can see me become a great coach. They can get to see how great their father and grandfather is," said Maradona.
Despite making the return to management with the First Division side, Maradona reiterated Fujairah has what it takes to return to the UAE top flight.
"This club is no less than any other club whether in facilities, infrastructure, or the mentality of the club and its players. Many of the coaches are focused on such things and this is wrong. My main ambition is to achieve success with Fujairah and achieve the goals that the club has set," he said.
"Fujairah is my top priority project and I will give it my full attention and focus and not let anything distract me," he added.
Maradona also revealed that there were other offers on the table from Kazakhstan and Russia, among others, but chose this unique "project" from Fujairah.
"I had received offers from Kazakhstan, Russia and other places. But my agenda now is only Fujairah. I will work very seriously and work hard. We will also create a team and attract players so that we can play at a higher level. As I said previously, I love living in the UAE and this is the best place in the world and I would never like to leave it. I will infuse my passion to Fujairah," Maradona said.
"It has been seven years, here some of the best years I've spent in my life. Now, I consider Fujairah as my home and I hope this will continue for years to come. What happened previously is history. Now it is only Fujairah. I will put my emotions and passion to this project," he added.
Maradona is tasked with plotting Fujairah's return to the Arabian Gulf League. They missed out this time after finishing fourth in the just concluded season.
The last time Fujairah were in the top flight was in the 2014-15 season but that lasted for only a year as they were relegated in the 2015-16 season.
james@khaleejtimes.com