Maradona denies interest in Uruguay job

Aug 4, 2007 - 7:31 PM ROSARIO, Argentina (Ticker) -- Argentina legend Diego Maradona insists he has no intention of becoming the Uruguay coach.

Rumors in the Uruguayan press have suggested that the former Barcelona playmaker had reached an agreement to coach the national team during the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.

"I respect (current Uruguay coach Oscar) Tabarez with all my heart and that it is why I'm not going to talk about that issue," Maradona said.

"Some of the rumors appeared very recently, but I respect the professor (Tabarez) as he has a great career. While he is on the bench I'm not going to talk with anybody."

Meanwhile, Maradona has taken a swipe at those who did not believe he would recover after being admitted to a psychiatric hospital in May to aid his battle against alcohol addiction.

"After they admitted me, they believed that I would never walk again," he said.

"However, today I run. I silenced a lot of people who said that I will never run after a ball again in my life."