Maradona to be offered another four years

Argentina will apparently offer soccer icon Diego Maradona a new 4-year deal as coach of the national team that recently competed in FIFA 2010 World Cup. Now Argentina has the right to do what it likes with its own national team, but maybe it should be very careful with what it wishes for. As a player he was a marvelous tactician and man with sublime skills but he also had, and still has, his dark side.

To go with his skills he also has an ego the size of Brazil. That is not what is needed in a national coach as it can detract from the job he has been appointed to achieve. He was also a cheat, as was demonstrated with his infamous "Hand of God" goal against England in a 1986 World Cup quarterfinal. This goes with a few unkind things to say about the best player ever to take the pitch, the incomparable Pele. Not the ideal, if you know what I mean.

With an astonishing 4-0 loss to Germany in South Africa, causing Argentina to finish well below their stated goal that nothing less than third would be good enough, I think Maradona is a liability not a saviour. Of course, Diego may decline the offer, but I think that's about as likely as Terrell Owens exhibiting humility. I personally believe that he will turn out to be a poor choice if given the reins, and will not last the four year term.