Live The Pitch

After 11 months at the helm, Diego Maradona will not be retained as Argentina move forward after the World Cup this summer.  Maradona led Argentina to a quarterfinal appearance this summer, but were embarrassed 4-0 by eventual 3rd place nation Germany.

The Argentine Football Association decided to not keep Maradona based on major coaching differences they had with moving forward.  The main issue was the coaches under Maradona.  Maradona wanted to keep all his assistants from this summer but the Association did not not see it the same way.  The Association offered Maradona a new 4 year contract to lead the team into Brazil but he insisted on  keeping his entire staff.

Maradona will be missed on the pitch, as he was always entertaining on the sidelines and in the press room.  With his outgoing personality, controversy followed him everywhere.  Honestly I am surprised that he was even offered a new deal after the way they left the World Cup.  After the defeat to Germany, Maradona was involved in a heated exchange with some German fans before having to be subdued by his daughter.