KOLKATA, Dec 6, 2008 (AFP) - Soccer superstar Diego Maradona arrived here Saturday to a frenzied welcome by fans who defied tight security to catch a glimpse of the Argentine legend.

Thousands of fans jostled and almost ran over the barricades at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose airport as the 5,000-strong security team tried to control the surging crowd.

Maradona, sporting a black jacket and trousers, waved back to the fans as he boarded a bus.

However, the recently appointed Argentina coach decided to keep his date with the country. Maradona is set to inaugurate a football school and also visit the global headquarters of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity order during his hectic two-day trip to the soccer-mad city.