World Cup legend Osvaldo Ardiles, who won the tournament with Argentina in 1978, publicly declared his interest in taking the soon-to-be-vacant Socceroos coaching position.

Ardiles, who starred as a player with Glenn Hoddle and countryman Ricardo Villa in Tottenham Hotspur’s midfield during the late-70s and early 80’s, told The World Game he would bring a “fresh” direction to football in Australia.

“It a needs a change, a fresh approach and I think I can provide that,” Ardiles said.

“Yes, I’ve worked in England, but other places as well and my approach to play football is how it should be played.”

As manager of Tottenham in the mid-1990s he introduced a five-man attacking formation to the team which won praise from fans and neutrals but had varying success.

Ardiles, 57, has also coached in Mexico, Argentina, Israel, and Japan.

“I believe that the better technique you have, the more things you can do. Say you want to play a ball 40 yards, you need that technique. If you cannot do that you’re not even going to try.”

Ardiles said he is no stranger to Australia and has attended coaching courses in the country.

He said he would base himself in Australia if he was appointed.

“If you are the manager of a national team you have to be based in the country you are managing 100 percent,” he said. “That is unthinkable to do it another way.”

“I was in Sydney not long ago,” he said. “The Australian FA had a course for coaches. I know one or two people there.”

Current Australia coach Pim Verbeek will quit the Socceroos at the end of the tournament to take a position with Morocco’s youth teams.

“The chance to coach a national team has not come along before,” Ardiles said. “It’s difficult to get a job with a national team, there are not many of them.

“I am waiting for an opportunity. I have been working with many clubs but now I think to coach a national team would be absolutely great.

“It will be great if it happens. I’m sure there’s not going to be a shortage of candidates.”

A darkhorse for the job imo.

Is he the first one to come out and publicly say he'd like he job.

(Zola and shudder, Gullit).

Yes, you would think he would what to keep that one on the hush hush