Former Boca Juniors coach Carlos Bianchi has emerged as favourite for the vacant Argentina job, while Diego Maradona is also in the running.
Bianchi, known as ‘The Viceroy’, has twice turned down the post in the past but local media said he had informally told the Argentine Football Association (AFA) that he would accept the role this time.
Sergio Batista, who took the under-23 side to the Olympic gold medal in August, former captain Diego Simeone and Miguel Angel Russo are seen as the other main candidates to replace Alfio Basile, who quit on Thursday, one day after his side lost 1-0 to Chile in a World Cup qualifier.
Bianchi, who won the Argentine championship four times and the Libertadores Cup three times in two spells with Boca, has emerged as the clear favourite in polls conducted by Argentine newspapers.
Meanwhile, playing legend Maradona has given a number of interviews expressing his interest.
“I know I don’t have many chances because Carlos Bianchi is ahead of me in the polls, but the dream is intact,” he said.
“To those who say that I don’t have experience, I say that…tactics are relative because the important thing is to have good players.”
