Maradona sacked as Argentina football team coach

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at 8:54 am under Sports News

Diego Maradona has been sacked as Argentina coach following a unanimous vote by the country’s Football Association (AFA) board not to renew his contract, an AFA spokesman said.

Maradona’s future had been in doubt since Argentina lost 4-0 to Germany in the World Cup quarter-finals, but many thought the former star would be given another chance. Maradona won the World Cup as a star player for Argentina in 1986. The AFA announced him as coach in 2008 and his short tenure was quickly tainted by clashes with players, coaches, directors and journalists. Considered by many to be the best ever soccer player, he struggled for years with drug addiction, obesity and alcoholism, making his comeback at the helm of the national squad an even more remarkable personal achievement. The animated coach was one of the most followed characters of World Cup competition and he enjoyed mostly loyal support from fans in his home country even after the team’s decidedly early exit for a squad aspiring to be take home the coveted cup. Jubilant fans sent him off to South Africa and many were surprised by the warm welcome he and the side received when thousands of fans greeted the team bus in Buenos Aires.