Int Football - Maradona takes first session

Eurosport - Tue, 18 Nov 11:35:00 2008

Diego Maradona took charge of his first training session with Argentina at Celtic Park - and it proved to be an unexpectedly memorable experience for one youngster.

FOOTBALL Diego Maradona Celtic Park 2008 - 0

After putting his players through their paces for around an hour ahead of Wednesday's friendly against Scotland at Hampden Park, the session ended in drama when Real Madrid's Fernando Gago lost a gold medallion after chesting the ball.

Maradona, himself, led the search and combed the Parkhead pitch for 10 minutes before Celtic youngster Adam Brown, 13, from Cumbernauld was successful in recovering the St Christopher medallion.

The Celtic under-14 winger was triumphantly held aloft by the Hand of God star before being presented with the gloves and hat worn by one of the world's greatest players during the session.

"It was a wee gold medallion with a face on it but I don't know whose face it was," said the Hoops youngster.

"Maradona said thanks - it was good to meet him, it was brilliant. I don't know what I'll do with the hat and gloves - probably frame them."

Argentina may have been without star man Lionel Messi, as a result of an agreement between the Football Association and Barcelona, but training still managed to attract a large media presence.

A message on the large screens declared "Celtic Football Club welcomes Diego Maradona and his Argentina players to Paradise" and among those taking part were Manchester United's Carlos Tevez, Liverpool's Javier Mascherano and Gabriel Heinze of Real Madrid.

It proved to be a relatively relaxed 60 minutes with all the players coming through the work-out unscathed.

Having won only one match from seven World Cup qualifiers, Argentina now hope the presence of Maradona in the dug-out will help improve their fortunes on Wednesday night in what is set to be a famous encounter in Glasgow.

TeamTalk / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 20 of 20

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  1. why did'nt argentina train at ibrox because their­ team bus probably would have been stolen c'mon the­ hoops

    From johnnydromid, on Thu 20 Nov 11:16PM

  2. Get a life butcher, move on.Greatest goal ever scored­ in the world cup finals in that match too. Wasnr big­ terry left for dead?.

    From thetwotoedsloth, on Wed 19 Nov 7:34PM

  3. PELE ?

    From zzgus f, on Wed 19 Nov 2:05AM

  4. and by the way..going back to 1966 World Cup that was­ actaully won by the russian linesman..who later in a­ autobiography admitted the ball neva crossed the­ line..!..so when shall we all meet up with the brava­ bro's to talk about cheating..Sala Pootha..!

    From dalsidhu2000, on Tue 18 Nov 2:43PM

  5. So cmon messi lets see if you can do it round 10­ players this time?..Can hear the excuses already.!

    From dalsidhu2000, on Tue 18 Nov 2:35PM

  6. So i suppose when M.Owen goes to Argentina and­ apologises for diving we can expect the football God to­ come to England to do the same

    From dalsidhu2000, on Tue 18 Nov 2:35PM

  7. C'mon you just dont get the same when the likes of­ Shearer, Liniker, owen turn up to a training ground,­ and talking of cheating butcher..have we all forgotton­ a certain M.Owen against the argies when he­ dived...clearly...to earn a pen..which shearer took and­ scored

    From dalsidhu2000, on Tue 18 Nov 2:34PM

  8. .....and it goes on & on..1966 World Cup...footbal­ was even invented properly then anyway so who gives a­ hoot toot to who won it b4 1986...??.This was when the­ real World Cup began as we know it today. They've­ all had a go..the Buthcher, the baker the roody­ candlestick maker..c'mon people wake up he is a­ legend, the best, when you get the whole of the­ Manchester Football team falling overthemselves to­ catch a glimise of this guy, and you get Jammie­ Cararagher bringing members of his family in to try and­ meet & greet the guy, and Rio.F (the present Eng­ Cap) saying he looked up to him, and if it wasnt for­ Mr.M then he would not be in footy 2day?

    From dalsidhu2000, on Tue 18 Nov 2:33PM

  9. Being irish Maradona was my hero when he kicked england­ out of the world cup .
    Look at his second goal he­ scored the greatest goal ever seen .
    When maradona­ scored that goal it was as if ireland won the world cup­ it felt that good.

    From , on Tue 18 Nov 1:14PM

  10. Dont judge a person till you've walked a mile in­ their shoe's,no one's perfect.

    From peter, on Tue 18 Nov 11:02AM

  11. wot a player in his prime, quite simply the greatest of­ all time. n balls 2 the hand of god, drugs n stuff. u­ fink gary lineker wud av turned 2 the referee n said i­ handled the ball if it was the other way round? no­ neither do i.

    From huzi9mm35, on Tue 18 Nov 8:47AM

  12. Nomatter who says what Maradona was/is the greatest of­ them all.How many things have you you ceated in your­ life?

    From lnzuwa, on Tue 18 Nov 7:39AM

  13. if he was English bet it would be a different kettle of­ fish.....Gazza? Tony Adams ?

    From Get a grip, on Tue 18 Nov 7:15AM

  14. The celebrations when he arrived in Scotland say it all­ for me...

    From markbennett555, on Tue 18 Nov 6:18AM

  15. hahaah lol.... u english are a bunch of sore losers, it­ was almost 30 years ago now. the man was a true­ football great no matter what he did. have ever heard­ of forgiveness. hahaha..... u guys will not win­ something till u learn to acept a loss.

    From First L, on Tue 18 Nov 5:31AM

  16. 'Why is he allowed back in the UK?' Seriously,­ what a moron... anyway, I'm sure the Scottish are­ delighted to have him...

    From CutPR, on Tue 18 Nov 4:00AM

  17. MARADONNA HAS BEEN MAKIN A FILM, IT A REMAKE OF­ "FANTASY ISLAND" HE PLAYS TATTOO, (THE PLANE­ THE PLANE) . lol HES A JUMPED UP CHEATIN PENIS, HE WILL­ BE SACKED WHEN THE ARGINTINIANS DO JACK @#$% AT THE­ WORLD CUP.
    HAND OF GOD? PFFFFFFFFFT. WOTEVA.

    From Micky, on Tue 18 Nov 2:43AM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Maybe because he is the greatest u prik. He's done­ more for the game than anyone.

    From Unknown U, on Tue 18 Nov 1:03AM

  19. looks like they needed a hand from god finding that­ medalion ;)
    cheating little midget wig wearing ignorant­ cokehead drunk junkie....
    why is he still allowed back­ in the UK?

    From stupot, on Tue 18 Nov 12:54AM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Maradona is a very nice bloke but he is quite short and­ dyes his hair.

    From Hutch, on Tue 18 Nov 12:33AM
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