Cesar Luis Menotti, who coached Argentina to the 1978 World Cup title, has undergone lung surgery in a Buenos Aires hospital, local media reported Sunday.
Argentina's private DyN news agency said Menotti was admitted to Hospital Italiano on Friday and underwent surgery for a lung infection. He was reported to be recovering satisfactorily from the operation.
Hospital Italiano confirmed Menotti was being treated there but declined to give details. The hospital said it was not planning an update on Menotti's condition.
Known as ''El Flaco'' - the thin one - the 72-year-old Menotti coached Argentina to its first World Cup title in a tournament played at home in Argentina.
Menotti has also coached some of Europe's best-known clubs including Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Sampdoria. In Argentina he coached the country's two most famous clubs - Boca Juniors and River Plate - plus a half-dozen more including clubs in Uruguay and Mexico.
Menotti's last job was as sporting director of Argentine club Independiente, a position he left late last year.
A heavy smoker, Menotti received various get-well messages from players including Atletico Madrid forward Sergio Aguero, who wrote on his Twitter account: "My best wishes for the recovery of Flaco Menotti, who is in intensive care with a lung infection."
Aguero, the son-in-law of former Argentine national team coach Diego Maradona, played for Menotti in 2005 at Independiente.
