Naples, Italy - Corrado Ferlaino, former president of Italian club Napoli that Diego Maradona led to two Serie A titles in the 1980s, said on Wednesday that the Argentine football legend already acted as a sort of coach when he played for the club. "For one season (Ottavio) Bianchi was the coach, but from the second year players no longer talked to Bianchi and Maradona was the true coach," Ferlaino said, in comments made to Radio 1.
These remarks came a day after Maradona was designated to coach Argentina, amid concerns that he has scarce - and relatively unsuccessful - experience as coach.
Ferlaino, 77, who had a love-hate relationship with the talented player, said Bianchi's successor Alberto Bigon also relied on the Argentine star.
"As a coach he was more focused on physical than on technical aspects, so he left Maradona to act as coach inside the pitch," Ferlaino said.
"I am sure he will handle the challenge very well. He is an intelligent person."
Former Napoli team-mates also expressed their satisfaction for their Argentine friend.
"I am extremely happy for Diego," Salvatore Bagni was quoted as saying in the Italian news agency ADN-Kronos. "He wanted to coach Argentina so badly that, as usual, his dreams came true."
Bagni, a good friend of Maradona's, said he had spoken to the legendary player after the designation.
"Obviously, taking part is not enough for him. He wants to win and he is already thinking of the 2010 World Cup," he said.
Bagni - who experienced from inside the pitch Maradona's qualities as a tactical leader - guessed how Argentina will play under its new coach.
"It unlikely that he will play with three strikers," he said of the chance that Maradona might field Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez at once. "It will be an Argentina that is attack- oriented but well balanced."
