Maradona admits publicly that drug taking almost consumed him

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona arrived in northern Mexico on Saturday to begin his new job as head coach of the second-tier club Dorados of Sinaloa. Maradona is one of the most recognisable names in international football, having led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup championship in Mexico with his infamous “Hand of God” goal. Diego Maradona on Monday insisted he had left his off-the-pitch issues behind. The 57-year-old has publicly struggled in the past with alcohol and drug addiction. But he told reporters he would take his new job seriously, and hadn't come to Mexico for a holiday. His new club is located in Culiacan, considered the heart of the Sinaloa cartel, one of Mexico's most powerful drug smuggling gangs. Some critics have described Maradona's new role as a publicity stunt for the team and a last-ditch effort to resurrect his career. Maradona will reportedly earn 150,000 US dollars a month to coach players who have complained of missed paychecks.