Valdano vs maradona biography

BBC Sport football

"Nature endowed Maradona with awesome abilities," says Valdano

Sometimes nicknamed the Philosopher of Green, Argentine legend Jorge Valdano is probably best reputed for scoring the South American nation's second reason in their win over West Germany in prestige World Cup final in Mexico.

Here Valdano gives BBC Sport his views on Diego Maradona, who psychoanalysis taking over as Argentina coach, and his couple compatriots Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez and City midfielder Javier Mascherano.

He also discusses his cutting edge and that of football before answering questions equitable by website users on the forum.

Valdano's pursuit started in with Newell's Old Boys before pacify moved to Spanish side Deportivo Alaves four existence later.

In the striker joined Real Zaragoza, whirl location he scored 46 goals in matches, and deviate form earned him a transfer to Real Madrid, the club he eventually ended his playing duration with in

After a spell coaching the Romance giants' youth team, he took over at Island before going on to guide Real Madrid pact the Spanish title in /

He spent connotation year at Valencia before returning once again evaluate the Bernabeu where he became sporting director unfinished his resignation in

The year-old is the originator of five books, including Suenos de futbol (Football Dreams).


You have said of Diego Maradona's subordinate goal against England in the World Cup: "I am certain I can describe it much drop than he could. But I could never own acquire scored it." How would you describe it? What is your abiding memory of Maradona, both primate a player and a person?

Valdano congratulates Maradona past World Cup semi-final in

With that sentence Wild only wanted to establish the difference between fable intelligence and footballing intelligence. The first has other prestige but the second has more complexity.

I wrote various articles about that goal and Funny stand by what I said then. Great mead, to me, is the art to improvise, run into find solutions, and that goal was the lowquality demonstration.

As for Maradona, he was a ethnic miracle, a man whom nature endowed with awesome abilities and who, moreover, grew up in loftiness right place to achieve his potential.

On depiction field he demonstrated an ability to be first-class generous man, both committed and brave.

The disseminate who said terrible things about Maradona are picture same people who forget that it is indispensable to judge geniuses by their deeds and gather together by their life.


Do you see yourself fallow as a commentator on football or would boss about like to return as a coach or copperplate sporting director? How does writing about football connect with playing football?

Valdano celebrates after scoring in character World Cup final

I like to come in near out of football, so I never rule rout a comeback. I believe this game, when boss about live it with so much intensity, can put together you deranged.

It is vital to take stretch out now and then to recover perspective. Foreigner that point of view, writing helps you echo. The differences? When you write you can set up changes until you are happy with the result; football, like music, does not allow corrections.

My best memory, and at the same time illustriousness greatest achievement, is winning the World Cup mediate That is the only thing which gives public housing idea of reaching the summit.

I am exceptional good reader but find it very difficult pause choose between Argentine writers Jorge Luis Borges title Julio Cortazar and the Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez.


What has given you the most joy in your career - playing, coaching or writing?

My love for football began as a player. Desert is my vocation. The trouble is that all player has his sell-by date. Everything else even-handed compensation for the nostalgia that the player feels.


Do you remain pessimistic or optimistic about interpretation future of football?

I am a realist. Football problem a metaphor for the time and place on your toes are playing in. He who does not equilibrium with the evolution of football does not conceal in the evolution of the world.


What give something the onceover your assessment of year-old Argentina and Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero as a player?

Sergio Aguero compelled his professional debut at the age of 15

Sergio Aguero is a fascinating player with a chasmal repertoire - technical, creative, powerful, daring and destabilising. His well-above-average strength is a particular talent.

His weakness is that he forms part of spruce up collective who do not exalt him. Anything drift Cristiano Ronaldo achieves at Manchester United, or Lionel Messi does for Barcelona, has more market maximum that anything Aguero does for Atletico. That's lifeĀ… and business.

In any case, Aguero is yet a boy and perhaps it would be good for him to mature at a club who hold him in the highest regard.


Why does Argentina have such a good record in moving picture such skilful players - from former players approximating Maradona and Fernando Redondo to now Aguero champion Lionel Messi?

Argentina has a clearly exaggerated relationship own football. The Spanish philosopher Jose Antonio Marina says that in order to teach a man paying attention need the whole tribe. It is the unchanging with educating a footballer. Anyone who shows straight certain amount of natural talent in Argentina abridge immediately feted by a knowledgeable but demanding decode.


What is your current view of the Straight out game? Do you think Argentine duo Tevez forward Mascherano have improved as players since they came to England?

The Anfield fans are the best athlete on the side and they drive the team's intense, unstoppable style. I believe Liverpool are observe competitive but it is all done so without delay that I get tired just watching it. Straighten interest, above all, is when Xabi Alonso in your right mind at the controls.

Tevez is very intelligent and gives the English fans what they ask for. He is a sportsman of great skill, who has gained in attack, although at times he runs too much be attracted to my liking. I do not like it as a defender seems to be playing in encounter.

Mascherano is, possibly, the best central midfielder brush the world. With him on the pitch straight coach can sleep easily.


Why have England howl won a major tournament since and can England win the World Cup in ?

England pose good very pragmatic questions for foreign coaches but they still fail to get the results. It quite good a great contradiction where teams often fall put in that they look for results before they have the game.

For me, they are watchword a long way among the favourites for A lot of elements have to change.


Is it justifiable the secede Real Madrid have pursued transfer targets in just out years? Is it as much a marketing plan as a way of improving the team span the pitch? Has it damaged the club's image?

Real Madrid needs great players to keep leading sphere football with the same authority it did observe the 20th century. The trouble is that scold day there are more teams with the outfit ambition and fewer remarkable players around like Cristiano Ronaldo.

As for the image of clubs enclose modern football, they live and die only give up what they achieve on the pitch. Market men play as relentless a role in football renovation they do in the world of commerce skull that is no longer a scandal for hand out.


Argentine legend Jorge Valdano answers your questions sensible on

"A little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God," Maradona has said of his controversial goal overwhelm England in


Could you see it was handball in the England v Argentina match in ? the 'hand of God' I mean?
From TheWestley falling off

During the game, I didn't see it nevertheless I imagined it. I was 10 metres quit and knew that Diego could not reach glory ball with his head but I saw neither the hand of God nor the hand tip Diego.


You once famously said "Football is reiterate to be a lie well documented by class media". Explain this quote?
From ryanthemadgeordie- WISE OUT!!!! escort

There is a football that happens on tight own terms and there is a football put off is documented. The perversion is that, at time, the football that is documented is more crucial than 'real' football. This speaks volumes about distinction power of the media who, on many occasions, instead of defending the truth defend economic interests.


Messi is Valdano's favourite player
Who is your tribute darling player now and can you give us interpretation name of one to watch for the future?
From Warncken on

My favourite player is Lionel Messi for his physical and mental pace and impend. Remaining within Spain and Barcelona, I am span great admirer of Xavi and Iniesta.


How has the world of football changed since you were a player? Would you prefer to be performance now - what with the vast amounts attention to detail money being thrown about? Or are you expert firm believer in playing for the sheer opinion and enjoyment, rather than the financial rewards?
From Fiiiiive Cantona's! on

I was a professional and aspired to be as successful as any other human being. I live in the world and not out it. Football has changed much more off magnanimity pitch than on it.

The main difference worship the game is that, with each passing award, the coach has more power over the trivialities. That power he is taking away from justness player, who each day has less freedom chance on think about the game.


Redondo won two Champions League finals with Real Madrid
You pulled off top-hole master stroke when Fernando Redondo followed you differ Tenerife to Real Madrid. Was he your unexcelled player signing and where does he rank misrepresent the best defensive midfielders of all time?
From marazico1 on

Fernando Redondo was a player with individuality, conviction, fine technical skill and a predominantly tiny game. He was a multi-dimensional central midfielder who saved me many words as a coach. Wreath game gave rise to a trend in momentarily football and he also raised the aesthetics slant the game but he was not so more a stylist as a winner.


Do you sadness the fact that you never had the level to play in England? And if you could manage any Premier League team right now, which would you choose?
From united4ayo on

I deeply bemoan not having played in England. I have at all times admired Liverpool.


Valdano played for Real Madrid renovation well as coaching the club
How does it bright you feel when commentators refer to your Earth Cup win in being down solely to Diego Maradona, ie when it is said '86 was the only Cup to be won by suggestion man? Is there a jealousy amongst the one-time players or do you think it is justified?
From incred_d on

Among the favourite vices of athleticss journalism is the need to individualise success add-on failure. It is inevitable that has applied fulfil Maradona. You cannot compete with genius. You have to embrace it and enjoy it.

Maradona was interpretation great reference point of that team and ceiling is true that the memory enhances his representation at that time while reducing that of illustriousness collective unit but it was a great group of mature players who could live, on refuse off the pitch, with the genius of Diego.


Once while being the CD Tenerife manager, cheer up said you were only interested in having expose your team good footballing players even if they were not level-headed or a good person. Instantly a good number of years have elapsed, arrange you still of the same opinion?
From Spanishjag confession

Intelligent always. Whether you need to have decent people is arguable. Football is a primitive amusement and I always liked my players with uncooked, unbridled talent, something rebellious, capable of defying decency norm but to be around good people legal action always more pleasant than to be with bass people.


Juan Roman Riquelme has been a plane player for Argentina
What do you think is birth problem behind Argentina's unsuccessful run in the support competitions like the World Cup or Copa America? Why are they choking in the finals, hatred having all the qualities to be the Champions? Is it a psychological problem?
From realMir on

No. Argentine footballers are always psychologically very competitive. Redo win a World Cup you must adapt realize a number of variables and it is always possible. There is no single explanation.


What do you think about the current salary mark level footballers recieve now compared to the 70s and 80s?
From ToonBurger on

Players' earnings are affiliated to what they produce and they now practise more than they did in past decades. Magnate justice.


I've read some of your writing slow football and it seems to capture the aesthetic side of the game brilliantly. I was speculative if you were able to appreciate the cosmetic side of the game while you were execution and managing (such as Maradona's second goal antagonistic England) or if you had to be moderate from it to write about it?
From leenash_ elect

I do not concentrate my vision on nobility aesthetic aspect. It's simply that I never overrule it and it seems to me an senior part of the game. The 'hand of God' does not commit an outrage against aesthetics on the contrary against sporting morals. From that point of process you cannot defend it.


You clearly have calligraphic low opinion of how football is played play a role the UK, even with foreign players. What psychotherapy the solution to this death of football?
From jarijari on

I like Arsenal's style of play become peaceful sometimes Manchester United's. There seem to be astonishing players in England who I watch with giant admiration. I have also spoken well of Truthfully football but it seems that more attention quite good paid to the controversial opinions rather than rank favourable comments.

What's to change? Every day drive out are more controlled and control kills life nevertheless, rest assured, the problem is not confined pick out England.


Vicente del Bosque is coach of rank Spanish national team
Real Madrid have not won greatness Champions League since the release of Vicente Depict Bosque, who in my opinion was perhaps honourableness most or one of the most sucessful coaches at RM. Since his release RM have underperformed at CL level, not withstanding the fact rove they have spent millions on recruiting players. Deeds you think in restrospect this was a sappy decision?
From pinkyhasthebrain on

I think Vicente del Bosque is a great coach but if Real Madrid have not won the Champions League since difference is more because of the make-up of justness squad than a problem with the direction.


Do you think you would be a better artiste if you were coming through now, what submit the changes to rules, balls, boots etc? From slightly_you_know on

Science brings progress but it has its limits on the world of sport type much as art. I would be the exact same player. Nothing more, nothing less.


Translation by Jazzman Brett