Something about Diego Maradona prompts people to break into song.

Late last year, an Irish group named the Corrigan Brothers recirculated a song they had done a few years earlier entitled: Ooohhh Diego.

Now, some Emiratis and fans of the UAE club that El Diego coaches, Al Wasl, have an Arabic-language tribute song entitled Maradona in Dubai. Which can be seen about halfway down the linked website page from The National site.

A couple of thoughts:

The first is a bit perkier, and more fun. And certainly more tart. It mentions Maradona’s issues with cocaine, and the accompanying images show him meeting Fidel Castro, and when he was muy gordo, and has some video in which he appears to be dancing to the music, etc.

And the refrain is “Oh oh oh, Diego: we thought you were a goner …”

The new song, in Arabic aside from the title, which is repeated several times in English, comes from local fans of the UAE Pro League club. As opposed to Irish smart-alecks.

The new song also has images of Maradona in Dubai, or from the Wasl team’s games this season.

Man still can’t really coach; but it doesn’t seem to hurt his popularity much.