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Maradona’s tenure as Argentina coach ends
Thursday, 29 July 2010 05:52
Diego Maradona has left his post as Argentina boss after a unanimous vote from the Argentine Football Association.
Maradona
had been offered a new four-year contract but said he would only
continue on condition that his backroom staff remained. He met with AFA
President Julio Grondona on Monday, but the differences between the
parties could not be resolved.
Grondona revealed details
of the talks to the board on Tuesday and AFA spokesman Ernesto Bialo has
confirmed Maradona‘s deal will not be renewed.
”There was
a big chasm that made it impossible to find an agreement,” he said. ”We
will not renew the contract. For the match against Spain, scheduled for
September 7, we may already have the new coach.
”It is
difficult to agree. The hardest difference to agree on was changing some
of Diego‘s staff. Nobody has been sacked. A contract has not been
extended because the conditions were not suitable. When you cannot agree
with somebody you love, you are not happy at all. I always want to talk
to him, but sometimes it is difficult because this is not the best
moment.‘‘
Other AFA board members appeared less saddened
by the situation, however. General secretary Jose Meiszner told cable
channel C5N, ”I would be hypocrite if I didn‘t admit there was a general
disliking of several aspects of the cycle that ended with the World
Cup.
“We did not see any intention to show humility, to say things should have been done better. There was no evaluation, no review, no conclusions. These are the things you have to think about in order to think about the future.‘‘
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