Maradona out as Argentina coach

Diego Maradona was removed as coach of Argentina's national team on Tuesday, ending an erratic 21-month stint that mirrored his own long personal history of unpredictable behaviour. The Argentine Football Association announced that his contract would not be renewed after Maradona said he would only accept the AFA's offer of a new four-year deal through to the 2014 World Cup if his entire staff also remained. "The full executive committee with a unanimous decision has decided not to renew the contract of Mr. Diego Maradona as national team coach," AFA spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo told a news conference. Maradona, 49, became Argentina's coach in November 2008, replacing Alfio Basile and taking over a team he led to the 1986 World Cup title. Maradona never explained why Messi, who had a roaming role on the pitch, failed to score and he had no answer for the piercing attack of Germany coach Joachim Loew. So I shouldn't have to tell Messi where to play either," Maradona said. Cabinet chief Anibal Fernandez said Maradona failed to respond or answer the phone, forcing the president's secretaries to leave messages on his answering machine. Two weeks ago, the AFA offered Maradona the chance to renew his contract for another four years. During his tenure, Maradona called up more than 100 players.