体坛英语新闻：Maradona close to taking charge of Gimnasia, says president

BUENOS AIRES, Sep. 5 (Xinhua) -- Argentine football great Diego Maradona is close to joining Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata as manager, the club's president said on Thursday.

"We just need to agree on details and I hope that it can be resolved today," Gimnasia president Gabriel Pellegrino told Argentine television network TyC Sports.

"We want it to be done right now. Maradona told us that he is flattered to have been given this chance."

Maradona's last coaching job was with Mexican second division side Dorados, with whom he parted ways in June due to health problems.

The 58-year-old, who was Argentina's national team head coach from 2008 to 2010, has undergone successful knee and shoulder surgery in recent weeks, according to his lawyer Matias Morla.

Gimnasia are currently last in the 24-team Superliga Argentina standings with one win and four losses in five matches this season. The club has been searching for a new manager since Sunday, when Dario Ortiz quit after the team's 1-0 loss to Argentinos Juniors.

"Diego told me that it would the biggest challenge of his life," Pellegrino said. "Right now, the most important thing is that Diego accepts the position. All day I've been checking my phone to see if there is an answer from him."

On Wednesday, Maradona posted a message on social media denying that he had already signed a contract with Gimnasia.

"I don't think it's a good thing to create false illusions with fans," the 1986 World Cup winner said on Instagram. "I still haven't met with anybody."