From Diego Maradona to Fabio Cannavaro - the UAE's World Cup connections

Some of the World Cup’s standouts through history have enjoyed an affiliation with UAE football at some point in their careers. Here, we highlight a select group who have had a sizeable impact on the game’s grandest stage.

World Cup-winning captain with Argentina in 1986, runner-up four years later, and manager of his national team in 2010, arguably the game’s greatest-ever exponent coached Al Wasl between 2011 and 2012. He then made a surprise appearance at second-division Fujairah, although lasting less than one year, from May 2017. Also employed as a Dubai Sports Council ambassador.

Late Argentinian football legend and the then Al-Wasl team coach, Diego Maradona, cutting a cake during a celebration marking his 51st birthday in Dubai, on October 30, 2011. AFP

Captained Italy to victory in 2006, when the Azzurri triumphed on penalties against France. The centre-back, who won that year’s Ballon d’Or - one of only three defenders in history to scoop the award - concluded his hugely successful club career at Al Ahli, joining the Dubai club following the 2010 World Cup. However, injury restricted him to a single season, although he did then become part of the coaching staff.

Fabio Cannavaro captained Italy to the 2006 World Cup. AFP

One of only three man to have won the World Cup as both player and manager - Franz Beckenbauer and Didier Deschamps the others - the Brazilian was part of his country's wins in 1952 and 1962 as a tricky left winger. He returned to lead Brazil from the dugout to the 1970 crown, and was an assistant coach during the 1994 triumph. Before that last hurrah, he was in charge of the UAE from 1989 to 1990, overseeing their only qualification for a World Cup. He left before the finals in Italy, though.