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.