阿根廷足協宣佈馬拉多納"下課"
Diego Maradona's spell as Argentina coach came to an end on Tuesday when soccer chiefs voted unanimously not to renew his contract, the country's AFA football association said on Tuesday.
Maradona's future had been in doubt since Argentina's 4-0 loss to Germany in the World Cup quarter-finals in South Africa earlier this month.
"The executive committee... has resolved unanimously not to renew the contract of Diego Armando Maradona as coach of the national team," an AFA spokesman told a news conference after the meeting of soccer bosses.
Rumours had swirled ahead of the announcement that Maradona would not continue as Argentina's coach, a position he has held since November 2008, because of a disagreement with the AFA.
Maradona told local media on Sunday he wanted to stay on as coach but only if he could keep control over the choice of his assistants.
His departure means Argentina need to find a new coach for the Copa America regional tournament next year.
Local media said former Boca Juniors coach Carlos Bianchi, who led the team to a string of national and continental titles in two stints between 1998 and 2004, was a popular favorite to replace Maradona.
Other names circulating as possible successors include Estudiantes coach Alex Sabella, Independiente's former coach Americo Gallego, former Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa and ex-River Plate, Inter Milan and Argentina striker Ramon Diaz.
阿根廷足協於本週二宣佈，足協官員一致投票決定不再與國家隊主教練迭戈•馬拉多納續約，馬大帥在阿根廷國家隊的執教生涯就此結束。
自阿根廷隊於本月初在南非世界盃四分之一決賽中以0比4慘敗德國隊後，馬拉多納在國家隊的去留問題就一直是個懸念。
當天，阿根廷足協的一位發言人在足協高層會議後召開的新聞發佈會上說：“足協執行委員會一致決定，不再與現任國家隊主帥迭戈•阿曼多•馬拉多納續約。
此前就有傳聞稱因馬拉多納與阿根廷足協意見不一，將不再擔任阿根廷國家隊主教練。馬拉多納於2008年11月接掌阿根廷國家隊帥印。
馬拉多納在上週日接受當地媒體採訪時表示，他希望留任，但前提是他有權利挑選助手。
老馬的離任意味着阿根廷需爲明年的美洲盃賽挑選一位新的主帥。
當地媒體稱，前博卡青年隊主帥卡洛斯•比安奇是接任馬拉多納的熱門人選。比安奇曾在1998至2004年執教博卡青年隊的兩屆任期內率隊奪得多個國內聯賽冠軍和洲際冠軍。
其他可能的人選包括大學生隊主帥亞歷克斯•薩貝利亞、獨立隊前主帥阿梅利科•加列戈、前國家隊主帥馬塞洛•貝爾薩、以及前河牀隊、國際米蘭隊、阿根廷隊前鋒拉蒙•迪亞斯。
Vocabulary:
spell: a continuous course or period of work or other activity（任期，做某事或在某處工作的一段時間）
renew the contract:續約
stint: a period of time spent doing something（從事某項工作或活動的時間）
