Maradona's reign over as Argentina seek new coach

DIEGO Maradona's stormy spell as Argentina coach came to an end when the Argentine Football Association (AFA) voted unanimously not to renew his contract.

Maradona's future had been in doubt since Argentina's 4-0 thrashing by Germany in the World Cup quarter-finals 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," said AFA chief Julio Grondona. "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 and president Cristina Fernandez urged him to stay on.

Several dozen fans, some banging drums and chanting, gathered outside the AFA's headquarters after the 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 at the weekend he wanted to stay on, but only if he could keep control over the choice of his assistants.

Maradona was widely seen as one of the world's best-ever players in his 1980s heyday, but he battled drug addiction, obesity and alcoholism for years after retiring from the game in the 1990s.

That made his comeback as national team coach an even more remarkable personal achievement, especially because he had very little experience as a manager.

He had a patchy tenure as coach of Argentina; however the team's convincing wins in their opening World Cup games propelled them into the list of favourites.

Maradona's exit means Argentina need to find a new coach for the Copa America next year, but Grondona said there was plenty of time to recruit.

Local media said former Boca Juniors coach Carlos Bianchi was a popular favourite. Other names circulating as possible successors include Estudiantes coach Alex Sabella, Independiente's former coach Americo Gallego, former Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa and ex-Inter Milan and Argentina striker Ramon Diaz.

Grondona said youth team coach Sergio Batista, Maradona's former 1986 team-mate, will lead the team as caretaker for a friendly against Ireland in Dublin on 11 August.