Maradona Ousted as Argentina Coach; Barcelona Debt Crisis Revealed

Maradona’s colourful spell as Argentina manager has come to an end after he was effectively sacked by the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) executive committee.

His departure comes after committee “unanimously” decided against renewing Maradona's contract.

"The president of the Argentinian Football Association, Mr Julio Grondona, made the members of the executive committee aware of the conversation with Mr Diego Maradona, setting out the points which had come out from the meeting," said a short statement on the AFA's website.

"The executive committee unanimously resolved not to renew the contract with Mr Diego Maradona as coach of the Argentina national football team."

As recently as the weekend Maradona had been tipped to stay on as national manager, despite the country’s humiliating World Cup quarter-final exit -- a 4-0 defeat to Germany.

However reported disagreements about the make up of his backroom staff precipitated Maradona’s exit.

"Maradona's requirements were very far from the FA's possibilities,” said AFA spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo.
The end of Maradona’s unlikely 21-month career as national manager brings to an end one of the most tumultuous spells in Argentina’s footballing history.

During that time Maradona used 107 players and only managed to qualify for South Africa after a dramatic injury time win over Peru last October and subsequent victory over Uruguay. Argentina’s qualification campaign also featured a 6-1 defeat to Bolivia and a foul-mouthed rant against journalists – earning him a three month ban from FIFA - once qualification had been secured.

Certainly life under Maradona was never dull and not once in his time as coach did Argentina draw a match. A sparkling start to the World Cup saw some tip Argentina as favourites, but the coach’s tactical naivety was cruelly exposed by Germany.

Argentina go into next month’s friendly with Ireland in Dublin without a manager, but the AFA hope to have a permanent manager in place when they face world champions Spain in September.