Maradona - a little man with a big reputation

Diego Armando Maradona. The name conjures up different emotions in so many football fans but whether you love him or hate him, there is no doubt there has never been a more iconic footballer than the diminutive Argentinean.
The debate whether he is the finest footballer ever to have played the game will never end but I don't think anyone can deny he was the best of his generation.
Was Ferenc Puskas or Pele the pick, Best the best, or Cruyff the cream of the crop? Your opinion may depend on how old you are as each generation holds a great player to its heart.
For us English 30 somethings who were transfixed to the 1986 World Cup, begrudgingly we have to admit that Maradona was simply magical.
The Hand of God aside (and even the fact that he managed to get away with that blatant piece of cheating is impressive), the destiny of a football trophy has never before been decided by one man. Pele was electric in 1970 but was a part of the most impressive team ever seen. Even without Pele, Brazil would probably have emerged triumphant in Mexico, but 16 years later, in the same stadium, one man would carry a nation to glory.
The Argentina team of 1986 was average but with Maradona in his pomp, they were unbeatable. He saw off Italy in the group stages, beat England on his own except for some help from God, and then bamboozled the Belgiums in the semi-finals. He even showed the vision to put Jorge Burruchaga through for the winning goal against the Germans.
Talk about timing! He discovered the best form of his career for the biggest sporting occasion in the world. Forget his claim that it was the Hand of God, to Argentineans he was a god after 1986.
Obviously, he proved his human frailties with cocaine and alcohol abuse, and ballooned from a barrel chested footballer into a beer bellied blimp but it still did not affect his status.
Now he is the manager of the Argentinean national team and takes charge of his first game against Scotland at Hampden on Wednesday night and I suspect he would still be considered a God in his homeland even if he fails at that, which I think is inevitable.
He has hardly any experience of coaching. He attempted to work as a coach on two short stints, leading Mandiyú of Corrientes (1994) and Racing Club (1995), but without much success, and his appointment was a shock.
However, his ability to motivate and be a figure head for the side will be his strength but I suspect his tenure will be brief and end in some sort of bust up or controversy.
Maradona; you may love him or loath him but somehow you just can't ignore him.