Diego Maradona joins Belarusian club Dynamo Brest as chairman after Fujairah departure

Diego Maradona’s career took another surprise turn late on Tuesday when he was announced as chairman of Belarusian club Dynamo Brest.

The Argentine, 57, left Fujairah on April 27 after failing to guide the UAE second-tier side to automatic promotion to the Arabian Gulf League. Fujairah clinched a place in the top flight earlier this week by coming through a play-off with Hatta.

Maradona was linked initially with a return to the Fujairah hot-seat in a frenzied few days following his departure, but has now made the unlikely move to board level at Brest. The club, eighth in this season’s Belarusian Premier League, have given him a contract through to 2021.

Confirming the appointment on social media, Brest tweeted: “Yes, Diego is with us. Legendary football player Diego Armando Maradona signed a three-year contract with the football club, Dynamo Brest, and took office as chairman of the club’s board.

“Diego Maradona will be involved in issues of strategic development of the club, as well as interacting with all its structural units, including the children’s academy.”

Brest, who won the Belarusian Cup last year and its Super Cup in March, said Maradona will be officially introduced as chairman at Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi. Details of the news conference to be released “shortly”.

Having enjoyed a varied career since he retired from playing, Maradona posted on Instagram: “I am president of the club, Dynamo Brest. Thanks for the trust and for thinking of me.”

Maradona, a Fifa World Cup winner with Argentina, was appointed as Fujairah manager last May with the objective of leading the club into the Arabian Gulf League. He had previously managed Al Wasl, but was dismissed in July 2012, midway through a two-year contract.

The National