Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona has been named head coach of Dubai's Al Wasl Sport Club (also known as Cheetahs) in a two-season contract.

Maradona, whose last coaching role was with the Argentine national side, will join the club next month, Al Wasl said in a statement. Terms of his contract were not disclosed.

'Al Wasl has become synonymous with achievements of this calibre, and we are very pleased to be welcoming Maradona to a long line of accolades in the club's history,' said its vice chairman Marwan Bin Bayat.

Al Wasl is currently fourth in the domestic league, which ends next month, and has been looking for a coach since firing Sergio Farias in March.

The club is chaired by Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a brother of the Dubai ruler.

Maradona had visited the club's training facility on Saturday and had been in talks for several days.

The signing of the Maradona is one of the biggest for the fledging UAE professional league, which is only in its third season.-TradeArabia News Service