( CNN ) -- Football legend Diego Maradona has been officially confirmed as the new coach of the Argentina national side . Maradona will get the chance to test his coaching credentials at the highest level . Julio Grondona , the president of the Argentinian Football Association , made the much-anticipated announcement in Buenos Aires on Tuesday . `` Today is a special day for Argentinian football , '' said Grondona . Maradona , 48 , will be assisted by former Argentina coach Carlos Bilardo , who will act as general manager . Maradona 's first match in charge wil be a friendly against Scotland in Glasgow on November 19 . He then faces a tougher task in making sure Argentina qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals from the South American group . `` It 's an honor , '' Maradona said . `` It 's a dream come true . I 'm going to give it my all to make sure that things go well . We 're going to work everyday so that Argentina has a national team that keeps getting better and better . '' Maradona wasted little time in stamping his authority in his new job , announcing that Liverpool 's Javier Mascherano would replace Javier Zanetti as captain of the Argentina side . `` I want Mascherano to be my captain because I believe he is the Argentinian player who is closest to the idea I have about the Argentinian shirt -- sweat for it , sacrifice for it , being a professional , being close to the teammate , '' he said . News of Maradona 's likely appointment broke last week after a meeting with Grondona and in subsequent media interviews it became clear that he was going to take on the job . Maradona told Fox Sports that `` my path is with the national team ... my path is to speak with the players , try to put together a solid group with Carlos . `` I 'll put together the team , I 'll choose the players and I 'm sure Carlos will take care of a ton of other things . `` For me , this only compares to the birth of my two daughters '' Dalma and Giannina , '' he added . Maradona 's well-publicized off-field antics make him a controversial appointment , despite the hero worship status he enjoys in Argentina after almost singlehandedly leading them to the 1986 World Cup in Mexico . They were beaten four years later by hosts Germany in the 1990 final . Maradona also played in the 1994 World Cup in the United States , but was sent home in disgrace after a positive drugs test . It was a sad end to a glittering career which saw him lead unfashionable Napoli to two Italian League titles . The world transfer record was broken when he joined Barcelona in 1982 and he went on to be regarded as perhaps the greatest footballer who ever played the game . Maradona is best known for his two goals in the 2-1 victory over England in the quarterfinal of the 1986 World Cup . The first was the `` Hand of God '' goal when he punched the ball beyond goalkeeper Peter Shilton and the second was a `` Goal of the Century '' contender in the shape of a spectacular 60-metre weave through six England players . Critics say he is inexperienced in a coaching role , having failed in brief stints with Argentine teams Deportivo Mandiyú and Racing Club during the mid-90s , but Grondona defended his appointment . `` We have the security of excellence , '' he said .
Diego Maradona appointed coach of Argentina 's national team . Maradona , 48 , will be assisted by former coach Carlos Bilardo . He succeeds Alfio Basile who quit after World Cup qualifying defeat to Chile . Comment: