Episodes
Monday Jun 07, 2021
Diego Maradona: The Dubai Years Ep. 1
Monday Jun 07, 2021
Monday Jun 07, 2021
It marks one of the most extraordinary developments in UAE sport, a moment that carried Emirati football beyond its borders and to the world. Ten years ago, in May 2011, Diego Maradona was announced as the new manager of Al Wasl, a Dubai-based club fourth in the nascent UAE Pro League.
The previous summer, Maradona had coached Argentina at the World Cup in South Africa, aiming to lead his country to football’s greatest prize, just as he did most famously as a player in 1986. Now he was appointed head coach at Wasl, a decorated club in the UAE top flight but without a trophy in four seasons.
Maradona signed a two-year contract, promising to restore his new employers to former glory. It did not quite work out that way, but Fifa’s joint player of the century would go on to make Dubai his home for the best part of the next decade.
To commemorate that remarkable period, The National has created a podcast series entitled “Diego Maradona: The Dubai Years”, with insight from some of the people who knew best the colourful Argentine during his time here.
In Episode 1, hosts Paul Radley and John McAuley detail the whirlwind moment Maradona was considered as Wasl manager, what it meant for UAE football, his arrival in the Emirates, and that first press conference in which the World Cup winner set the stage for what became a rollercoaster ride of emotions.
Subscribe to this five-part special to hear the story in full.
Produced by Ayesha Khan and Arthur Eddyson.
Thursday May 20, 2021
Nigel Shadbolt on the ideals of artificial intelligence
Thursday May 20, 2021
Thursday May 20, 2021
Wednesday Apr 21, 2021
Super League shambles - 48 hours when the game self-destructed
Wednesday Apr 21, 2021
Wednesday Apr 21, 2021
Dominic Hart, sports editor at The National, talks to Andy Mittin, The National’s European football correspondent, about the reaction to the announcement and the clubs withdrawing.
Friday Apr 09, 2021
Jordanian teen sensation Issam Alnajjar on his newfound success
Friday Apr 09, 2021
Friday Apr 09, 2021
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
Will the commute ever really go away?
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
Thursday Mar 25, 2021
Is the Xbox Series X beating the PlayStation 5 in the console wars?
Thursday Mar 25, 2021
Thursday Mar 25, 2021
Thursday Mar 18, 2021
Lessons from setting a Guinness World Record
Thursday Mar 18, 2021
Thursday Mar 18, 2021
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Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Art and technology forging the future
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
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Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
How UAE citizenship will help scientists
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
Rediscovering art in Abu Dhabi
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021