Story By: Alex Cope, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Golder’s News And Sport 

The Venezuelan Football Federation are reportedly working to try to lure Diego Maradona into becoming the head coach of the national team after their manager quit.

Coach Rafael Dudamel left his role as head coach of the Venezuela national team amid a rift this week with the country’s football federation.

Dudamel said: “My relationship (with the federation) was deteriorating quickly in recent times and in the current conditions it was very complicated to continue.”

Local media report the Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF) are now working to try to convince footballing icon Diego Maradona to leave his job as coach of Gimnasia Esgrima-La Plata in his native Argentina to take over Dudamel’s role.

Local news outlet Infobae report the chiefs of the FVF “have contacted Maradona’s inner circle to offer him to coach the national team”. Reports state the move was made to register their interest with Maradona and the “second step will surely be a financial offer”.

Maradona has previously been an outspoken supporter of controversial Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

A spokesperson from Gimnasia Esgrima-La Plata told reporters: “Diego is fully with the club; for now that is all there is.”

Maradona previously coached the Argentine national team, taking them to the 2010 World Cup before they were beaten 4-0 by Germany in the quarter-finals.

He has won four, drawn one and lost six of his 11 matches with Gimnasia.

The ViralTab page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.