Maradona has interest in Argentina job

Oct 17, 2008 - 7:21 PM BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Ticker) -- Diego Maradona would love to be the new coach of Argentina.

Argentina has a coaching vacancy to fill after Alfio Basile resigned Thursday following his side's 1-0 defeat to Chile in World Cup qualifying. The loss left Argentina third in the South American zone table.

Maradona, a member of the side which won the World Cup in Mexico in 1986, always has been popular in Argentina despite repeated drug problems.

"I would love to coach the national team. Who wouldn't? Anybody would be seduced by the position," Maradona said. "It's the time for those of us who gave everybody such joy in '86 to have our chance.

"But we have to respect the other names, who have their merits too and are perfectly ready to coach Argentina."

The two main candidates are being seen as fellow 1986 squad member Sergio Batista, who led the Under-23 side to gold at the Beijing Olympics this year, and Miguel Angel Russo, currently in charge of the domestic league leaders San Lorenzo.

Basile's poor relationship with the players is said to be one of the reasons for his resignation.

But many in Argentina believe it is the time for changes in the squad, calling for a number of veterans to quit the national team.