This archive report was first published on 9 September 2019.
On September 9, 2019, Argentine soccer fans gathered in large numbers to welcome Diego Maradona, the country's World Cup winner, as he began his new role as coach of Gimnasia y Esgrima.
Maradona, 58, addressed the crowd at a stadium in La Plata, just outside Buenos Aires, saying, 'We are going to get ahead together.'
As the former striker started his first day of training with the team, known as 'El Lobo' or The Wolf, fans were eager to see him revive the struggling team.
Gimnasia y Esgrima, formed in 1887, has won only one professional title, the Copa Centenario, in 1993, and is currently last in its division.
Maradona's hiring was met with enthusiasm, with thousands of fans lining up to register as members and secure a spot in matches.
Even before his official start, limited-edition shirts with Maradona's former number 10 sold out in a few hours.
