DUBAI: United Arab Emirates football club al-Wasl on Tuesday fired Argentine great Diego Maradona after only one season, despite his contract granting him a second. The club, which finished 8th in the domestic league and failed to win a second-tier competition, left the board of directors frustrated. The firing comes after Maradona had seen the club back him for a second season at the helm last month. The club had said Maradona would remain as the team's coach despite a disappointing loss in the GCC Champions League final that forced the entire board of directors to resign. The loss had left many questioning whether the former Argentine great would remain in the UAE. But Wasl Club chairman Mohammad Ahmad bin Fahad dismissed in mid-June reports that Maradona had resigned as a “mistake." He said Maradona's future had not been discussed at the board meeting Sunday. “Maradona is the head coach of Al Wasl and has the complete authority for the program," Bin Fahad said. “He will continue with us. There is no change in his position.” But on Tuesday Maradona was given the pink slip and booted as the club's manager.
