Buenos Aires - Former Argentine football legend Diego Armando Maradona, officially appointed to coach Argentina Tuesday, said the new position was "a dream come true".

"For me it is an honour and a dream come true to be the coach of the Argentine national team, at the side of Carlos Bilardo. I will give my everything so that things go well for us," Maradona said in a press conference.

He is set to travel to Madrid Wednesday, along with Argentina's new manager Bilardo - the man who coached Maradona and his team-mates to the 1986 World Cup title, - to speak to several Argentine players who are active in European clubs.

"(I will ask players) to enjoy themselves. I will ask for nothing that other coaches have not asked them for," Maradona said.

The new coach said he would like Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano to be the team's captain.

"I want him to be my captain because I think he is the Argentine player who is closest to what I think of as an Argentina captain," the new coach said.

Mascherano has said in recent days that he does not feel ready for the challenge and has turned down the offer, but Maradona will try to change his mind.

"For me it is a dream. But it has to continue with work. If I stay with my arms folded it will mean I am not doing well for the national team," he said. "I am not nervous. I am calm because there is enough material and I want the players to understand the message." (dpa)