No one doubts how beloved Maradona is in Argentina. Not all the extra sports controversies could stain the image of, for many, the best player in the history of football. However, in 2008 he undertook a project that could have made him an enemy of his own hobby, accepting the position of national coach.
The World Cup in Argentina was perfect until the quarterfinals, when they conceded a painful 0-4 from Germany. Maradona was considering leaving the post when he found the support of his entire staff. You can read in this newspaper ten years ago how Higuaín, with watery eyes, went to his technician's room to ask him not to leave. Thus, Di María, Messi, Bolatti, Otamendi, Tevez, Pastore, Agüero and even Julio Grondona, president of the AFA, had also told him.
Maradona was determined to leave, but before he received the support of the majority (it was said that Verón, Heinze and Mascherano did not think the same) from the dressing room. Its continuity until the 2011 Copa América was accepted but not signed. The Pelusa wanted to keep the power of decision over his future seeing how he was doing in the World Cup and the blow against the steamroller that was Germany was too hard. “I feel like Ali has knocked me out,” he said. For his own love and for the love of Argentina, Maradona left office.