Maradona returns to Boca

By Carlos Drechsler
June 25 2005

Diego Armando Maradona has started a new life. After being very ill and close to death a year ago, he managed to get healthier than ever and has now achieved another dream of his: to work for Boca Juniors, his favorite team. He is the new vice-president of the football department.

Most of the world thinks he is the best football player of all times, and he is admired in almost every place in the world. Until three months ago, his life was constantly in danger because of his drug addiction and health problems which almost causes his death last year. Now, after going through surgery in order to lose weight, he has started a new life.

Last month he met with Bosnian film director Emir Kusturica, who is shooting a documentary on his life. Twenty days ago 80000 fans in Napoli received him and cheered him in a very emotive act in which Ciro Ferrara retired from activity. And now, he will work for his beloved team Boca Juniors as vice-president of the football department.

This is almost a dream for the 47-year-old star, and his role in the club will be to share his experience and knowledge, by giving advice whenever it is requested and by staying close to the squad. He has signed a contract for a year, and stated:

“I’m willing to work here all my life; I want to die in Boca”

The Argentinian team is now trying to overcome the crisis suffered during this semester, with its peak in the scandal in the match against Chivas de Guadalajara and the forced resignation of the trainer. Maradona’s arrival is a very important step towards the new season and his presence in the club is very likely to raise the morale of players, coaches and directives. He described the situation this way:

“I feel my arrival is a synonym of joy and renewal. Fans should believe this too, they should feel the joy of renewal (…). Here we will all (he and the directives) work hard for Boca’s benefit, but we will need the fans’ help.”

He has rejected offers from other teams and even Argentina’s national team in order to land in Boca, and he has already started to work. For example, the team has hired a new trainer. Alfio Basile, who directed Maradona as a player in World Cup 1994 for Argentina, was the star’s favorite candidate to take the job and he signed almost as Maradona did too.

Also, the team will go through some reconstructions, since many players are getting older and the directives are not happy with the performances of some of them. Boca has already secured the transfer of two midfielders, and close to sign a third. Maradona made a list with more players to sign together with Basile, and among them, there is a dream that could come true: Brazilian star Rivaldo.