Diego named Argies' boss

DIEGO MARADONA tonight confirmed his shock appointment as Argentina boss - with a trip to Scotland as his first match.

The 1986 World Cup winner announced he will be head coach on November 19 when his countrymen visit Hampden Park, where he scored his first international goal.

Maradona will travel to England next week to meet two Argies challenging for the Premier League title - Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez and Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano.

And on tuesday the Argentinian FA will rubber-stamp their choice of a controversial but all-time great player for their top job.

Maradona, 48 today, said: "I really never expected this, although I always dreamed of having the chance.

"I will travel to England on Saturday to see Tevez and Mascherano.

"And in Scotland I will make my debut.

"We're going to play the game against Scotland with the best team we've got."

Lionel Messi, 21, will be one of the few stars to miss that match as Argentina have agreed with Barcelona that the whizkid will not play every friendly.

Sergio Batista, who guided the Argentina Under-20s to Olympic glory, is tipped to be Maradona's sidekick.

And he is likely to have a technical director in Carlos Bilardo, the boss of Argentina's 1986 and 1990 World Cup teams.

Maradona's coaching experience is limited to two months with Deportivo Mandiyu in 1994 and four months at Racing Club the following year.

But Argie football chiefs hope his iconic status with both players and fans will transform a national team who have won just one of their seven World Cup qualifiers.

source: thesun