Maradona axed as Argentina coach
Source: Agencies |
July 29, 2010, Thursday
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DIEGO Maradona's stormy spell as Argentina coach came to an end on Tuesday when the Argentine Football Association voted not to renew his contract.
Maradona's future had been in doubt since Argentina's 0-4 thrashing by Germany in the World Cup quarterfinals in South Africa this month, less than two years since his headline-grabbing appointment.
"There needed to be some changes among Diego's staff ... and we couldn't come to an agreement," AFA chief Julio Grondona told reporters.
"No one's being kicked out, a contract hasn't been renewed because we didn't have the conditions to do so."
An AFA spokesman cited "unbridgeable differences" with the flamboyant Maradona, who led Argentina to World Cup victory as captain in 1986 and is adored by many Argentines.
The team's earlier-than-expected exit from the tournament followed a shaky qualifying campaign, but the former player was still given a hero's welcome when the squad returned home.
Several dozen fans, some banging drums and chanting, gathered outside the AFA's headquarters in Buenos Aires after Tuesday's announcement.
Speculation had mounted ahead of the meeting that Maradona would not stay on as coach - a position he had held since November 2008 - because of the disagreement over his coaching staff.
Maradona, 49, said on Sunday he wanted to stay on, but only if he could keep control over the choice of his assistants.
Grondona had asked for several assistants to be replaced. One of them was Maradona's close friend Alejandro Mancuso.
Despite Maradona's contract not being renewed, AFA spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo hinted there might be a role in the future for him. "This marks the end of a first chapter with Mr Maradona," Cherquis Bialo said. "The doors to this house, as always, will be open to him."
Maradona's future had been in doubt since Argentina's 0-4 thrashing by Germany in the World Cup quarterfinals in South Africa this month, less than two years since his headline-grabbing appointment.
"There needed to be some changes among Diego's staff ... and we couldn't come to an agreement," AFA chief Julio Grondona told reporters.
"No one's being kicked out, a contract hasn't been renewed because we didn't have the conditions to do so."
An AFA spokesman cited "unbridgeable differences" with the flamboyant Maradona, who led Argentina to World Cup victory as captain in 1986 and is adored by many Argentines.
The team's earlier-than-expected exit from the tournament followed a shaky qualifying campaign, but the former player was still given a hero's welcome when the squad returned home.
Several dozen fans, some banging drums and chanting, gathered outside the AFA's headquarters in Buenos Aires after Tuesday's announcement.
Speculation had mounted ahead of the meeting that Maradona would not stay on as coach - a position he had held since November 2008 - because of the disagreement over his coaching staff.
Maradona, 49, said on Sunday he wanted to stay on, but only if he could keep control over the choice of his assistants.
Grondona had asked for several assistants to be replaced. One of them was Maradona's close friend Alejandro Mancuso.
Despite Maradona's contract not being renewed, AFA spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo hinted there might be a role in the future for him. "This marks the end of a first chapter with Mr Maradona," Cherquis Bialo said. "The doors to this house, as always, will be open to him."
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