Diego Maradona revealed last night that he is on the verge of becoming the new Argentina coach after having a meeting with Julio Grondona, the president of the Argentine FA. Carlos Bilardo, who coached Argentina at the 1986 and 1990 World Cups, was also at the meeting and it is understood that he could become a director in the new set-up.

“The offer from Julio Grondona attracted me a lot,” Maradona said. “As soon as it is confirmed, I will start working, but I can say I am very proud.”

Argentina, who play Scotland in a friendly at Hampden Park next month, have been without a coach since Alfio Basile resigned 13 days ago and Pedro Troglio, the coach of Cerro Porteño, the Paraguayan club, has claimed that he has been approached by Maradona to become a member of the new national team set-up.

“I am extremely happy, but I must keep my feet on the ground,” Troglio, Maradona’s former Argentina team-mate, said. “The world’s best player has called me. It was a huge surprise. Being aware that your name is included as possible coaching staff is amazing, but we’ll have to wait to see whether Diego is selected.”

Maradona’s return would cap a remarkable comeback from a near-fatal heart attack four years ago. He will turn 48 tomorrow and has no top-level coaching experience, but he said that he hopes to repeat the success of the World Cup in 1986, when, as a player, he inspired them to the title.

“During the conversation with Grondona and Bilardo, it became clear that I was to coach the team,” Maradona, whose international playing career came to an ignominious end when he failed a dope test at the 1994 World Cup finals, said. “However, I am going to listen to everything Bilardo has to say. He is going to help me, as we can’t leave someone with the success, experience and knowledge he brings on the sidelines.

“Grondona’s ideas are the same as mine and Bilardo’s. My job will be to go and watch the players as often as possible. The idea is to return the squad to the spirit of 1986.”

Carlos Bianchi, the former Boca Juniors coach, was in the frame for the position as were two other former Argentina team-mates of Maradona — Miguel Ángel Russo, the San Lorenzo coach, and Sergio Batista, who led the under-23 squad to Olympic gold in Beijing in August.