Diego Maradona could be reappointed as Argentina coach

Posted Tuesday, August 03, 2010 by theguardian.com

Diego Maradona could be reappointed as Argentina coach
Diego Maradona has been encouraged to talk to the Argentina football association about a possible return as coach.

Argentina's national team director, Carlos Bilardo, says the door remains open for Diego Maradona to return as the country's coach.

Maradona's contract as Argentina coach was not renewed following the World Cup after disagreements with the Argentinian FA. However, Bilardo – whom Maradona accused of betraying him – said there are no names in the pipeline to succeed the 1986 World Cup winner and believes he could take up his role again if he sits down and talks to the AFA president, Julio Grondona.

"If Diego comes and talks, I don't know what can happen. It's all a question of talking," Bilardo told the news channel Todo Noticias. "I would not close any door. We are awaiting the outcome. Anything can happen.

"My job is to suggest people who can work and then the executive committee are those who decide. But we still have not talked with anyone or come up with anyone's names. The possibility of another meeting [between Maradona and the AFA] exists."

Maradona, whose side were defeated 4-0 by Germany in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, met Grondona a week ago to discuss his future and a possible renewal of his contract. He was told at the meeting the board were only prepared to keep him in the post if he changed substantial numbers of his backroom team – something the 49-year-old was not prepared to do.

Argentina's next game is a friendly against Republic of Ireland on 11 August in Dublin, and the Under-20 coach, Sergio Batista, has been placed in temporary charge for that fixture. Batista guided Argentina's Under-23 side to gold at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.