Former player Miguel Angel Brindisi succeeded Carlos Bianchi as Boca's new coach on Monday after Bianchi's shock resignation from the Argentine first division club.

Boca's directors chose Brindisi at a meeting on Monday, vice-president Gregorio Zidar told the club's cable television channel.

Brindisi played for Boca with Diego Maradona when the Buenos Aires club won the Argentine championship in 1981 and has coached teams in Guatemala, Ecuador and Argentina, including Independiente.

Bianchi, who led the club to three Libertadores Cup wins, resigned on Sunday just a few days after Boca lost on penalties to the unfancied Colombian side Once Caldas in the final of this year's competition.

Argentine media reported that relations between Bianchi and club president Mauricio Macri were strained over the sale of players, and that the coach wanted to spend more time with his family.

(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2004)