Buenos Aires - Former Argentine football superstar Diego Maradona has been named coach of the country's national team despite a lack of experience as trainer at a time when Argentina has struggled in World Cup qualifiers.

"Now the real work begins," Maradona said.

His appointment followed a meeting Tuesday that Maradona and former national coach Carlos Bilardo held with Argentine football federation President Julio Grondona.

The athlete many football watchers consider the greatest in the sport of all time is to be introduced officially as Argentina's coach on Thursday, his 48 birthday.

Maradona led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup championship and was named the tournament's best player. He was also named the FIFA Player of the Century along with Pele in 2000.

However, he has little experience as a trainer. He twice coached teams in Argentina's second league in the mid-1990s, but both played poorly.

Also in manager posts, he couldn't relive the glory days he had as a player when he scored 34 goals in 91 matches for the national team.

Media reports said, however, that Maradona would have plenty of co-trainers. Bilardo, who coached Argentina and Maradona to the 1986 world championship, is to serve as his adviser.

Sergio Goycochea was named goalkeeper trainer, and Jose Luis Brown, Julio Olarticoechea and Sergio Batista are also to serve as assistants.

But the "Golden Boy" said in an interview with Argentina's Clarin newspaper: "I choose the team."

Since his playing days, Maradona has made more headlines for his health problems than for sport. He has struggled with drug problems, spending long periods in treatment, while also battling his weight and suffering heart ailments. He underwent stomach-reduction surgery and has since slimmed down.

Maradona succeeds Alfio Basile, who resigned after Argentina's 1-0 defeat to Chile October 16 in the South American qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Argentina has won only one of its last seven games in the qualifiers.

Maradona's debut as coach is to come next month when Argentina plays Scotland in a friendly in Glasgow. The next crucial match is set for March when Argentina is to meet Venezuela in Buenos Aires in a World Cup qualifier. (dpa)