Argentine soccer celebrity Diego Maradona on Tuesday publicly denied press reports that he had contacted Diego Simeone to be the next manager of Boca Juniors and made a call to respect Boca's current manager, Miguel Angel Russo.
Simeone, known as El Cholo (the mixed race man), "remains undercontract. He is not my ideal candidate," Maradona said. "I have not recommended him because now is not the right time. We must respect Miguel," he added.
Russo's contract expires after the World Cup for clubs, which runs from Dec. 7 to Dec. 16.

Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona waves to his fans before the match between Boca Juniors and Lanus in an Argentine Apertura championship soccer match in Buenos Aires Dec. 2, 2007. Maradona on Tuesday publicly denied press reports that he had contacted Diego Simeone to be the next manager of Boca Juniors and made a call to respect Boca's current manager, Miguel Angel Russo. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)Maradona, who captained the Argentine team that won the World Cup in Mexico City in 1986, was formally appointed as Boca's soccer adviser on Monday, but does not receive a salary.
Maradona added that Simeone "is a great professional doing great work for Estudiantes," a team from the Argentine city of La Plata. Estudiantes won the 2007 Opening Tournament after beating Boca. "But I don't even have his phone number," he added.
Source: Xinhua