Maxi Rodriguez backs Gerardo Martino to be Argentina coach

Buenos Aires: Argentine footballer and three-time World Cup participant Maximiliano Rodriguez has backed former Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino to be the next coach of Argentina`s national team.

Amid speculations that Martino has been selected as coach, the Newell`s Old Boys midfielder, 33, said Monday that Martino "is very hardworking, crazy about football and knows what he wants", reports Xinhua. Rodriguez was coached by Martino when Newell`s won the 2013 Closing Tournament. "I always said that if Alejandro (Sabella) didn`t extend his stay then in my opinion Martino is the one for Argentina," said Rodriguez. According to press reports, the former coach of Paraguay`s national team and Spanish giants Barcelona is set to accept the job offer put forward by the Argentine Football Association. As to managerial style, Martino, 54, prefers to play a very high pressing and an attacking style of football. All of Martino`s teams have the same distinguishable traits -- attack-minded and creative style based on quick passing. Rodriguez was a part of the national team that came second at the 2014 Brazil World Cup, and reached the quarterfinals at the 2010 South Africa and 2006 Germany World Cups.