Argentina name Basile as new boss

Basile's Boca won both national championships played last season

Argentina have appointed Alfio Basile as their new head coach.

The 62-year-old replaces Jose Pekerman, who stepped down following the defeat on penalties by hosts Germany at the quarter-finals of the recent World Cup.

Basile was previously in charge of the national team from 1991 to 1994, winning the Copa America, the country's last silverware, in 1991 and 1993.

An exponent of attacking football, Basile will step down from his present post at Boca Juniors on 15 September.

"Obviously, I'm very proud to coach the Argentina national team again, like any Argentine would be," said Basile.

"I'm looking forward to it greatly, especially seeing the quantity of great players we have."

The AFA offered Basile the job two weeks ago and were eager for him to take up the role as soon as possible.

But Boca wanted to keep him until after the second leg of the South American Recopa and have got their wish, with Basile switching jobs the day after the second leg clash against Brazil's Sao Paulo.

Basile took over at Boca 12 months ago, with Argentina's most popular club at a low ebb, but turned them around to win both the national championships played last season.

"Boca have made a very important contribution to the national team in the long term and we also have time to organise ourselves," said Boca president Mauricio Macri.

Former national coach Marcelo Bielsa and Mexico's World Cup coach Ricardo La Volpe have both turned down approaches from the Buenos Aires club.

Macri has not confirmed who Basile's successor will be but Argentine legend Diego Maradona has long been tipped to take charge of his former club one day.

After twice winning the Copa America, Basile's first spell with Argentina was marred by a 5-0 home defeat against Colombia in a World Cup qualifier ahead of the 1994 tournament.

The finals campaign itself was overshadowed by Maradona's failed drug test and the team crashed out in an entertaining second-round match against Romania.