Adiós Diego: Despite a stellar record of 8 wins and 7 loses in his two years in charge of La Albiceleste, the Argentine Football Association has shown Diego Maradona the backhand of god and told him to suck it and keep on sucking it (possibly NSFW). It seems all because the prima(Mara)dona refused to change any of his staff, stating "if they touch a hair of one of my guys, even if it's the masseur or the kitman, I'm going."
Reasons for sacking: no defensive structure, favouritism in selections (Higuain better than Milito? No Zanetti or Cambiasso? You're kidding.)
Reasons for keeping him: Maradona-cam was almost as entertaining as the match itself.
posted by owlhouse at 07:09 AM on July 29, 2010
I find him totally unlikable. I was rooting against Argentina because of him. He seems to be more trouble than he is worth.
posted by bperk at 09:30 AM on July 29, 2010
What owlhouse said.
The team winning had everything to do with the quality players and nothing to do with the coach. The team losing had everything to do with the crap coach who was only interested in pushing forward and had no idea what to do about defence.
He was a distraction; his ultimatums and weird superstitions were creepy.
posted by scully at 10:54 AM on July 29, 2010
I'm surprised at this move. I thought Maradona showed them enough to get the job for 2014. Considering that Argentina almost didn't make the tournament at all, to be a force in the tournament until their final loss was an accomplishment.
Maradona also had more entertainment value than all the other World Cup coaches combined.
posted by rcade at 11:25 AM on July 28, 2010