LIVERPOOL, England (AP) -Seasoned England internationals like Steve Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand stood in line like anxious schoolboys Friday to greet Diego Maradona as Argentina's new coach met midfielder Javier Mascherano and striker Carlos Tevez to discuss the national team.
Maradona visited the training complexes of Liverpool and Manchester United to meet the two players - and discovered lines of senior players waiting for an autograph, a handshake or a word or two from the legendary player.
In Liverpool, players and family members stood in line outside manager Rafa Benitez's office, where he spoke with Maradona for two hours.
"I was having a discussion with Maradona in my office but it was very difficult," Benitez said. "There was a constant stream of our biggest players wanting to meet him. Probably our two most famous (Jamie Carragher and captain Steven Gerrard) were first in the queue.
"Maradona was great, he was very patient with all the requests. Even some of Carragher's family turned up. Xabi Alonso also wanted to meet him, his father had played alongside Maradona at Barcelona. We also had lots of the youngsters here who were just speechless and wanted to meet him."
The hero worship meant Maradona struggled for time with Mascherano, who he wants to captain the side but is believed to be reluctant.
"I joked with him about this, but they have had a meeting together and they will talk about this," Benitez said. "We talked about what Maradona wants from us and from Javier. The talks were positive, it was helpful to know what he was thinking."
"Clearly, he could be captain. He has a fantastic mentality, is a good professional and a strong character. If he wants he can be a fantastic captain."
Tevez and Mascherano should both be in action Saturday, when Manchester United is at Arsenal and Liverpool hosts West Bromwich Albion.
Maradona wants Mascherano to be captain for Argentina's match against Scotland at Hampden Park on Nov. 19. The Liverpool midfielder didn't speak as he left the club's training ground.
Maradona, who was confirmed as coach this week, also paid a visit to Manchester United's training complex to meet Tevez.
Maradona gave United defender Ferdinand a 30th birthday to remember, arriving in the club's dressing room with a signed shirt for him.
"We were like school kids around a star coming to school," Ferdinand said. "In my eyes, he is the best footballer ever. He is one of my heroes, if not the shining beacon when I was a kid. I had all his videos. He was the player everyone wanted to be.
"He was the best. He was my idol and part of the reason why I started to play football. I can't hold him in higher esteem than that. To be able to shake his hand, get a cuddle off him and a picture, it made my birthday."
Manager Alex Ferguson was surprised at how star struck his internationally renowned players were.
"The players were all delighted to see him," Ferguson said. "It is arguable who is the best player in the world but without a doubt, he is in the best two or three."
Maradona previously met with Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich pair Martin Demichelis and Jose Ernesto Sosa on Thursday. Both are in the squad to play Scotland.
"When the greatest Argentine football idol and the last World Cup champion coach come to Munich to visit me and Jose, you can't ask for more," said Demichelis, who spoke to Maradona for about 50 minutes.
