Appointing Diego Maradona as Dynamo Brest chairman is 'win-win' for all, says club vice-president

Denzil Pinto 17:59 29/05/2018
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Diego Maradona (c) and Valdas Ivanauskas (second right)

    Dynamo Brest’s vice-president Valdas Ivanauskas has insisted the club will reap the benefits of having Diego Maradona on board, describing the Argentina legend’s appointment as a ‘win-win’ situation.

    Less than a month after leaving Fujairah following their failure to secure automatic promotion to the Arabian Gulf League, the 1986 World Cup winner was unveiled as the Belarusian outfit’s new chairman last week in Abu Dhabi.

    The 57-year-old will officially begin his new role in July after the World Cup in Russia and will be tasked with handling first-team matters, plus the club’s academy.

    The World Cup 1986 winner’s appointment has raised Brest’s profile in the sporting world for now and Ivanauskas admits bringing in a man like Maradona is a big boost for the club.

    “Of course. Everybody has opinions about Diego,” said the 51-year-old. “For us, it’s just win-win situation. We can’t lose. We need to take from Diego his experience.

    “Not just as a player – as a player he’s a legend. But also how he works with the Argentina national team, how he worked here in the Emirates and in other countries. For us it’s the experience. It’s a good deal and everybody is very, very lucky.”

    Ivanauskas confirmed the club first made contact with Maradona late last year but only on the possibility of arranging friendlies with Fujairah. Once he was no longer their coach, Brest made their move but the Lithuanian says there are no immediate plans for the Al Wasl and Argentina coach to take the reins.

    “We saw the chance to take Diego, which you have maybe one time in your life, we got him and for us was a very, very big opportunity,” he said. “Also for the players and for everybody in Belarus. Diego is the name, Diego is chairman, Diego is boss.

    “And we think the experience he can give them, as a player, a coach, a manager and also an ambassador of the world, is very important for us.”

    Brest are currently eighth in the top-flight, but lifted Belarusian Cup earlier this month. The icon has promised a number of Emirati players will follow him to Belarus as they bid to qualify for the Europe League’s main stage.

    And Ivanauskas insists the club will support Maradona is whatever reinforcements are required.

    He said: “We welcome that. We were talking with Diego some days ago and he knows exactly our situation with the team and he knows exactly want we need.

    “Diego’s thinking about [signing Emiratis], but for now he’s concentrating on our team and also his commitments for the World Cup. We have a little bit of time before the Europa League qualifier, so if Diego says ‘this player can help us’, they’re welcome.”

    Recommended