Maradona close to coaching Argentina

Oct 29, 2008 - 12:17 AM BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Ticker) - Diego Maradona will be confirmed as the new Argentina coach next Tuesday, according to Argentina Football Association National Team's secretary Luis Segura.

Maradona, 47, revealed on Tuesday he is on the verge of accepting the job and met with Argentinian Football Association president Julio Grondona on Tuesday night.

Argentina has been without a coach since Alfio Basile stepped down for personal reasons on October 16, although Maradona has little coaching experience, having been in charge of Deportivo Mandiyu for two months in 1994 and Racing Club for four months in 1995.

"The appointment will be official when the AFA's Committee approves it. And the next meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday." Segura said.

"I believe there will not be anymore meetings with the other candidates."

Segura did confirm Sergio Batista will be in charge for the November 19 friendly against Norway in Oslo.

"My first job will be watching the players. I'll try to talk to them one by one and then work at the training camp in Ezeiza with them," Maradona said. "I arrived from Georgia at 10 a.m. and three hours later I was having a shower to meet Julio. As I was going to the meeting, I thought it was some kind of hidden camera (show).

"The direction Julio wants for the national team is the same Bilardo and I have. My job will be watching the players and picking up the ones who are in the best form."

Maradona faces the task of helping Argentina improve its form with the Albicelestes having won just one of their last seven World Cup qualifiers to lie third in the South American Zone.

"The offer from Julio Grondona attracted me a lot," the former Argentina captain told FOX Sports. "As soon as it is confirmed, I will start working, but I can say I am very proud.

"I'm putting everything aside for this. There is nothing that can make me look past the national team. Today my path is the national team, my task is to talk to the players and build a solid group. I am sure the guys and Argentinian football will pull through."