Mascherano agrees to be Maradona's Argentina captain

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has agreed to captain Argentina under new coach Diego Maradona.

"I've convinced him," Maradona told Radio La Red after returning from a six-day trip to Europe during which he visited a number of his top players.

"I explained to him what I thought about him and told him what I thought he could give the team."

Mascherano, 24, initially said he did not feel ready to take on the responsibility.

Maradona is also hoping to make former defender Oscar Ruggeri his assistant despite media reports of opposition from Argentina Football Association president Julio Grondona.

"I don't think Oscar's impossible," said Maradona.

The choice of his assistant has already become a hot topic.

At one stage Maradona said Jose Luis Brown and Sergio Batista, team mates from the 1986 World Cup-winning side, would take on the role. But he then changed his mind, saying the decision was not final.

Ruggeri's recent coaching record would make him a controversial choice.