It was supposed to be a dream job. When his name was confirmed by the Argentine FA last November that he would take over the national team from Alfio Basile, everyone was elated. Optimism was the order of the day.
It was a good choice.
Who could have said nay to Diego Maradona, the living football legend who inspired Argentina to win the 1986 World Cup in Mexico?
Whether he had divine blessing when he was assisted by the "Hand of God" in scoring that infamous first goal for Argentina that led to England's defeat in the quarter-finals is moot now.
His second goal was an amazing 75-metre run past six England players and goalkeeper Peter Shilton before he put the ball in the net. That was hailed as "The Goal of the Century."
Diego Maradona had arrived.
Who could have doubted the choice of Maradona - regarded by many as the greatest player in the world at the height of his glorified years - as the national coach of a world soccer power, Argentina?
Although he had little previous managerial experience, it did not matter much to those who clamoured for him.
Adulation of great players is a culture ingrained in the minds of football fans all over the world. A football superhero is more reason for fans to go ga-ga.
Over time in modern football history, since the emergence of a 17-year-old Brazilian wunderkind by the name of Pele in the 1958 World Cup finals in Sweden, the "beautiful game" has spawned more great players than you can kicked a football at.
But none stood out like Pele and Maradona.
Although both belong to different era on the international football stage, their names immediately leap to mind when we debate who's the greatest player of all time. Soccer aficionados may argue until the cows come home as who is numero uno.
Maradona was the anointed successor to Pele to wear the crown of the greatest player in the world. He was voted FIFA Player of the Century and shared the award with none other than Pele.
Last Saturday, Maradona's ambition for another World Cup glory as Argentina coach became a hellish experience as his Brazilian counterpart, Carlos Dunga, put a spanner in the works.
The 3-1 result in Saturday's 'classico' showed that pragmatism won the day for Dunga. Judging by past results between the two South American giants, Dunga's tactical approach has given him three victories over Argentina since 2006.
Maradona and Dunga, who captained Brazil to the 1994 World Cup title, are poles apart in their coaching philosophy. While the Brazilian believes in being pragmatic, the Argentinian endorses romantic attacking football.
Maradona's idea of football is to play a cavalier attacking game. But like a cunning master in the art of warfare, Dunga had Brazil playing it patiently, drawing out the Argentines, and counter attacked when the opportunity opened.
Maradona's coaching ability was previously whispered. The latest defeat has sparked concern with the Argentine media crying out loud that Argentina's ticket to South Africa is at stake.
Maradona is staring down the barrel.
In fact, the warning signs had been there when Argentina suffered a 6-1 humiliation inflicted by Bolivia at altitude in La Paz on April 1 this year. Then came June when Ecuador dealt them another blow, winning 2-0.
Maradona was gutted after that crushing defeat by Bolivia, saying "every Bolivia goal was a stab in my heart." His tactics and team selection were raising eyebrows.
Argentina, under Maradona's tutelage, have found themselves between a rock and a hard place. They are in a precarious position as far as the World Cup qualification is concerned. Maradona cannot afford another defeat.
Maradona will need to inspire his players when they take on Paraguay in a crucial qualifying match on Wednesday. Not an easy task.
Second-placed Paraguay will be no walkover. After that, two more fixtures remain in the South American World Cup qualifiers - against Peru and Uruguay who are just two points behind Argentina.
Following the latest defeat, one Argentinian newspaper, Critica, headlined that Maradona's dream of taking Argentina to South Africa now lies "In the Hands of God." Argentinians can only pray for a miracle. -- Mark Kho
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