The Iraqi Football Association quashed talk that it was negotiating with Argentine great Diego Maradona to coach its national team.

"There is no negotiation between Iraqi Football Association with Diego Maradona and it doesn't have any intention to hire him," said deputy IFA head Abdul-Khaliq Masoud.

The denial follow reports out of Argentina that Maradona was a leading candidate to take over as Iraq coach. Maradona most recently coach Dubai club Al Wasl but was fired in July despite having a year left on his contract. He had coached Argentina at the 2010 World Cup.

He was dismissed as Argentina's national coach following the team's elimination in the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. His time in charge split public opinion in Argentina with criticism of his tactical decisions, offset by the respect he commands for his achievements as a player.