Previous incumbent Alfio Basile resigned late on Thursday following his side's 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat against Chile on Wednesday, which left them third in the South American zone table.

Maradona, a member of the side which won the World Cup in Mexico in 1986, said on Friday: "I would love to coach the national team. Who wouldn't? Anybody would be seduced by the position.

"It's the time for those of us who gave everybody such joy in '86 to have our chance.

"But we have to respect the other names, who have their merits too and are perfectly ready to coach Argentina."

The two main candidates are being seen as fellow 1986 squad member Sergio Batista, who led the Under-23 side to gold at the Beijing Olympics this year, and Miguel Angel Russo, currently in charge of the domestic league leaders San Lorenzo.

Maradona continued in an interview with radio station La Red: "Argentina's troubles could be solved talking face to face with the players."

Basile's poor relationship with the players is said to be one of the reasons for his resignation.

But many in Argentina believe it is the time for changes in the squad, calling for a number of veterans to quit the national team.

Asked about Gabriel Heinze, Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso and Roberto Abbondanzieri, Maradona said: "In my team, Heinze plays. The others, we should analyse better.

"At some point, it's logical that some other player, stronger and younger, will arrive and become a starter."

Basile's agent, meanwhile, has denied the former coach's relationship with the players was the reason for his decision to quit.

Norberto Recassens said: "Coco (Basile) loves the national team and he thought this would be for the best.

"It's a personal decision and the players had nothing to do with it. Now we have to move forward and support the team."

About Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, who declared the team needed a change, Recassens added: "He said that just because he's an inexperienced player."

Messi and Gabriel Heinze were two of the players reported to have had a bad relationship with the coach, a situation which is thought to have come to a head after Argentina drew with Paraguay last month.

Recassens said: "Basile took the decision after the Chile match, late in the night, and then he spoke with his assistants. Things happen because they have to."

The agent added that the 64-year-old coach hasn't told him yet if he plans to continue working or retire.