Al Wasl sack Diego Maradona as coach

Dubai: Al Wasl have announced via their official Twitter account that coach Diego Maradona has been given his marching orders.

Reports in the United Arab Emirates had long been suggesting that Maradona could be axed by the club following the 51-year-old`s disappointing first season at the Zabeel Stadium. Al Wasl finished in eighth position in the league, while they lost the Gulf Clubs Championship final on penalties and crashed out of the President`s and Emirates Cups in the quarter-finals. The Emirati club`s new board of directors rejected last month such stories, but Maradona has now been informed that his contract has been terminated one year before it was due to expire. A club spokesman told Sport 360: "Following a meeting by the Board of Directors of Al Wasl Football Company on Tuesday evening to evaluate the technical staff of the Al Wasl football team under the leadership of Diego Maradona and after thorough evaluation of the coach and his staff it, has been decided to terminate the services of Diego Maradona and his technical staff." Maradona returned to coaching in 2008 to guide the Argentina national team, being sacked two years later following the Albiceleste`s quarter-final exit at the World Cup in South Africa. Goal.com