This possible visit comes amidst rumors that the former Napoli man will perhaps coach the Iranian national side in the future. Ali Kashaffian, President of Iranian National Football Federation denied these rumors and said in a statement that the football legend is only visiting the country.
Maradona has always dreamt of visiting Iran and he even gave one of his famous shirts to ‘the Iranian nation’.
The Argentinean is not the only famous personality from Latin America who will visit Iran. Bolivian president, Evo Morales paid a visit to Iran and even played football with the Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran.
In that tour, Evo Morales even had a training session with Tabriz’s team, Teraktorsazi.
It is still to be known what the conclusion of Maradona’s tour will be but rumors say that the Argentina legend might be visiting the country for a public relations tour for the Argentine national squad but he has also been linked with a coaching job with the Iranian national team.
Local papers in Iran have already been suggesting that Iran’s Football Federation may be looking to fire current coach Afshin Ghotbi to make way for Diego Maradona.
The former Argentina coach guided the Argentine national team to the quarterfinals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa but had a hard time with the media during his tenure as the coach of Argentina. The controversial Argentine was later sacked by the Argentinean Football Federation and was replaced by Alvaro Batista.
Diego Maradona has already expressed his desire to return to managing and is looking for a suitable club or country to start over. The 1986 World Cup winner has always been surrounded with controversies throughout his career but is widely acknowledged as the best player South America has ever produced.
It would be a great coup for Iranian Football if Diego Maradona decides to coach the national team as it will raise the profile of the game in the country and in neighboring countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq even more.