Former Argentina coach Bilardo set to enter politics

Buenos Aires, Oct 29: Former Argentina coach Carlos Bilardo, who led his country to World Cup victory in 1986, said he is set to enter politics.

Bilardo, popularly known as Narigon (Big Nose), said in a radio interview that he had been offered a post as sports secretary of Buenos Aires province by governor-elect Daniel Scioli, who won yestarday's election.

''They called me to see if I wanted to co-operate with the sporting area and I said yes,'' the controversial and eccentric former coach told Radio Mitre.

''We've already spoken to Scioli and I believe we understood each other quickly,'' he said.

Bilardo was in charge of the Diego Maradona-inspired team which won the World Cup in Mexico in 1986 and was also at the helm when the South Americans finished runners-up four years later in Italy.

As a player, he was part of the notorious Estudiantes team which won the Libertadores Cup three times in a row.

Bilardo, 68, quit his last coaching job with Estudiantes in 2004 and currently works as a television presenter.

UNI