BUENOS AIRES, Jan. 24 -- Diego Maradona said Friday that he declined an offer from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to coach the country's national men's football team.

Maradona, currently the manager of Argentinian Superliga side Gimnasia, met with Maduro in Caracas on Tuesday, less than a month after Rafael Dudamel quit as Venezuela's head coach.

"Maduro offered me the national team [job] but I told him that I have a commitment with Gimnasia," Maradona told journalists before his team's home Superliga clash with Velez Sarsfield on Friday.

"I couldn't let the lads and the people down. There was no possibility that I would leave here," he added.

The Vinotinto have been without a head coach since January 3, when Dudamel resigned to take charge of Brazilian Serie A club Atletico Mineiro.

Maradona, who almost single-handedly guided Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title, has a contract with Gimnasia until May. The 59-year-old has said that his main priority is to help the club avoid relegation to Argentinian football's second tier.

The former Barcelona, Napoli and Boca Juniors forward has a close friendship with Maduro, who made clear his admiration for the Argentinian after this week's meeting.

"I received a pleasant visit from our friend and brother Diego Armando Maradona," Maduro wrote on Twitter. "A meeting in which we shared reflections on the different themes of sport and global affairs. Thanks Diego! Venezuela thanks you for your unconditional support for our country."

【体坛英语资讯：Maradona says he turned down offer to coach Venezuela】相关文章：

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Brangelina ready for another kid

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Lindsay Lohan receiving flirty text messages

★ 体坛英语资讯：Russia march on to quarters, Israel beat Croatia

★ 体坛英语资讯：NBAs spectacular China games just the tip-off

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Katie Holmes shows off her signature old Hollywood glamour look

★ 体坛英语资讯：China wins womens team title at table tennis worlds

★ 体坛英语资讯：Chang breaks with Peng but still wants to help China

★ 体坛英语资讯：China chalks up breathtaking victory at world table tennis

★ 体坛英语资讯：Federer reaches first final of 2008 in clay event

★ 体坛英语资讯：Wang ready to bounce back in 2008