Wednesday`s 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Chile in Santiago left Argentina seven points behind South American leaders Paraguay and seems to have been the catalyst for Basile to quit.

Argentina Football Association (AFA) spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo revealed Basile had called AFA president Julio Grondona to inform him of his decision.

"He was very sure about the decision he had made and you can't do anything to change the mind of someone who is that convinced," Bialo said.

AFA National Team secretary Luis Segura, meanwhile, underlined his disappointment Basile`s tenure had come to an end.

"This is very bad news," he said.

"When something comes to an end in such a way, nobody is happy. Not Basile nor Grondona."

Bialo added that it was still too early to start thinking about Basile`s replacement.

"Now is the time to analyse. It's too soon to choose a successor," he insisted.

Argentina's next match is a friendly against Scotland on November 19 in Glasgow.

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Argentina have won only one World Cup qualifier this year, a 2-1 home triumph over Uruguay on Saturday following four consecutive draws against Ecuador, Brazil, Paraguay and Peru, to lie third in the standings.

Basile`s resignation brings the curtain down on the 64-year-old`s second stint in charge of the national team.

He had previously led Argentina to the 1994 World Cup in USA before they were knocked out in the second round by Romania, prompting him to quit.

Basile took the helm once more after the 2006 World Cup following Jose Pekerman`s resignation and guided Argentina to the final of the Copa America in 2007, where they lost 3-0 to arch-rivals Brazil.

Sergio Batista, who was part of the 1986 World Cup-winning side, is certain to be among the front-runners to replace Basile after coaching Argentina to gold at this summer`s Olympic Games.

"I'm convinced I can coach the senior team. If it's my turn, I will take it," he said.

River Plate boss Diego Simeone and Miguel Angel Russo, coach of league leaders San Lorenzo, are other potential candidates.

Midfielder Lionel Messi had earlier expressed his deep disappointment at Argentina`s performance against Chile.

"The truth is that we've done everything badly," he said.

"I know I didn't play well. We all didn't play well. We must correct a lot of things for the future."