
Coach Diego Maradona (AFP)
Agentinean football legend Diego Maradona's agent reached out to Egyptian club Smouha to offer the player-turned-coach's services for the upcoming season, the club announced early Tuesday.
"One of the coaches' agents suggested Maradona to become our new coach in the upcoming season. It isn't a joke. This is real news." the Alexandria-based club stated via their Twitter account.
The 55-year-old Maradona, who is widely regarded as one of the best football players of all time, is currently serving as Dubai's Honorary Ambassador of Sports.
Retired in 1997, the former attacking midfielder has led a host of top-flight clubs - like Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli and Sevilla - throughout his career.
Before retirement, his outstanding performances over 17 years with the Argentinian national team and his participation in four World Cups ensured him a place among football legends.
Maradona led his country to win the 1986 World Cup and later finished second at the 1990 World Cup after a tough battle with champions West Germany.
In 2010 Maradona returned to the World Cup, although this time as a coach for his nation's squad. His last coaching position was at Al-Wasl in the UAE in 2012.
Smouha says "Not now"
Smouha, who ended the Egyptian league in 10th place last season, currently lie at fourth in the league table with 47 points after 30 matches, 21 points behind league leaders Ahly.
The coastal club is currently coached by Egyptian Helmi Toulan, whose current contract expires at the end of the current season.
"Yes we were offered to sign Maradona, but we tend to reject the opportunity as the team is currently stable in the league competition and competes for a spot at African Confederation Cup in the new season," Smouha chairman Mohamed Farag Amer told Egyptian sports website Filgoal.com.
"We may discuss the idea again by the end of the season," the Egyptian businessman added.
The owner of one of the biggest food and beverage companies in the country, Amer entered football world being elected as Smouha president in 1998, during which the team played in the fourth division.
Under his leadership, Smouha reached Egypt's Premier League for the first time in 2010.
Smouha's greatest achievement was finishing as runners-up in both the Egyptian league and Egypt Cup in the 2013/2014 season.
They also managed to reach the group stage of the CAF Champions League in the same season.
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