November 9 – Carlos Bilardo (pictured) is planning to launch a challenge to become President of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) when Julio Grondona steps down, he announced today .
The 70-year-old is a hero in Argentina having led them to victory at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
He is currently the general manager of the team, assisting Diego Maradona in the build-up to the tournament in South Africa next year, although the two have an uneasy relationship.
Maradona recently accused Bilardo of leading a plot to overthrow Grondona, which he denied.
Bilardo, who also served as Secretary of State for Sports in Buenos Aires, is confident that Grondona will support him.
He said: “I want to be AFA’s president, have no doubt.
“I believe that Julio will help me, same as [Sepp] Blatter helped [Michel] Platini [to lead UEFA], and as they’re helping [Franz] Beckenbauer.”
The 78-year-old Grondona has held the post since 1979, taking over the year after Argentina won the World Cup for the first time in its history, and appointed Bilardo as coach.
He is now a senior vice-president of FIFA.