Diego Maradona sacked as Al Wasl coach

Dubai: Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona was sacked as coach of United Arab Emirates side Al Wasl just over a year after he was appointed to the job, the club announced on Tuesday.

The 51-year-old – who was appointed in May 2011 after he had lost his job the previous year as Argentina national coach – had looked to be in a precarious position after failing to win a trophy last season.

His cause had not been helped when the board of directors that had hired him resigned following the previous campaign and their replacements took the decision to fire him after a meeting on Tuesday.

“Following a meeting held by the board of directors of Al Wasl Football Company held today (Tuesday), to evaluate the technical staff of Al Wasl Football Team under the leadership of coach Diego Maradona, it was decided to terminate the services of coach Diego Maradona and his technical staff,” a statement from the club said.

Maradona – who as a player almost singlehandedly guided Argentina to the 1986 World Cup trophy and then to the 1990 final – had another year left on his contract.