Maradona, his team fighting to avoid a humiliating World Cup exit, announced a string of changes on Friday for the final qualifiers next month against Peru and Uruguay.
He had already reshuffled his team, to little effect, for this month's defeats by Brazil and Paraguay.
He has also finally decided to reward Gonzalo Higuain for his sparkling displays for Real Madrid where the striker fits in seamlessly with the expensive 'Galacticos'.
That Gabriel Heinze is still there indicates Maradona appreciates the defender's fighting spirit because he is one of the least popular selections for fans and media.
"No one imposes a player on me. That's the last thing I'd put up with from anyone ... not even a suggestion about a player," Maradona told reporters after his return on Thursday.
Before Cesar Luis Menotti was appointed coach for the 1978 World Cup on home soil, Argentina's potential was regularly wasted by a lack of organisation and constant sackings or resignations of coaches, with a consequent lack of selection consistency.
Maradona, taking over from Alfio Basile a year ago, was only the second coach to come on board in the middle of a four-year World Cup cycle after Marcelo Bielsa's surprise resignation in 2004 when Nestor Pekerman stepped in.
The 1986 World Cup-winning captain has called up more than 60 players for eight qualifiers and five friendlies but his appointment will probably only be judged a failure if Argentina do not get to next year's finals in South Africa.
