Maradona unveiled as chairman of Belarus club

World
Europe

01:12

It's just been announced that Diego Maradona will be the new chairman of Belorussian Premier League club Dynamo Brest. The 1986 World Cup winner was most recently the coach of second-tier Fujairah in the UAE and it's believed there is a big financial incentive for the 57-year-old to move to Eastern Europe.

Maradona touched down in Belarus after undertaking a FIFA ambassadorship at the World Cup in Russia. The Argentinian has signed a three-year contract to take charge of a club that was rescued from bankruptcy just two years ago.

Belarus-Emirates Business Union representative Tajeddine Seif (L) and retired Argentinian footballer Diego Maradona (C), appointed FC Dynamo Brest chairman, give a news conference./VCG Photo

Brest are currently sixth in the Belorussian Premier League, halfway through the season, and their best ever finish was third in 1992. Following his trip to Russia, the former Napoli and Barcelona forward has hit the headlines in his home country for criticizing Argentina's performances -- not that he was impressed with anyone else in particular.

Diego Maradona arrives at the stadium to watch the match between Dynamo Brest and Shakhtyor Soligorsk in Brest, Belarus. /VCG Photo

The football icon said, “We have seen a World Cup that was difficult to decipher. You don't know if it was physical, if it was technical, or tactical. I did not see a set piece, except for Luka Modric in the final, who sent the ball to the far post.”

“We also did not see those who we wanted to see such as Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi. We did not see them. Maybe Eden Hazard and Kylian Mbappe. But we need to undoubtedly wash our faces after this World Cup, and work hard so that in the next one, we will really see football on the pitch,” Maradona added.