Soccer legend Valdano hurt in Mexico chopper crash

MEXICO CITY, Mar 25 (Reuters) Argentine soccer great Jorge Valdano was injured along with seven others in a helicopter crash in Mexico City today, police said.

The helicopter crashed in a street in the capital's business district, but police said there were no casualties.

All six passengers, along with the pilot and co-pilot, were taken to hospital.

''Among the passengers was Argentine Jorge Valdano, the former professional soccer player,'' said Gabriel Regino, deputy public security chief for Mexico City, at the scene.

''They are stable, conscious, with injuries -- possibly one of them seriously hurt, but it's not Valdano,'' he added.

The cause of the accident was not clear.

Valdano, 50, for many a soccer legend, was part of the Argentine team that won the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. He later went on to coach Real Madrid and eventually became the club's sporting director in 2000. He resigned last year.

REUTERS SHR KN2332