Argentina's coach Diego Maradona reacts during their 2010 World Cup second round soccer match against Mexico at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg in this June 27, 2010 file photo. Maradona has been sacked as Argentina coach following a unanimous vote by the country's Football Association (AFA) board not to renew his contract, an AFA spokesman said on July 27, 2010. Picture taken June 27, 2010.
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.
阿根廷足协于本周二宣布，足协官员一致投票决定不再与国家队主教练迭戈•马拉多纳续约，马大帅在阿根廷国家队的执教生涯就此结束。
自阿根廷队于本月初在南非世界杯四分之一决赛中以0比4惨败德国队后，马拉多纳在国家队的去留问题就一直是个悬念。
当天，阿根廷足协的一位发言人在足协高层会议后召开的新闻发布会上说：“足协执行委员会一致决定，不再与现任国家队主帅迭戈•阿曼多•马拉多纳续约。
此前就有传闻称因马拉多纳与阿根廷足协意见不一，将不再担任阿根廷国家队主教练。马拉多纳于2008年11月接掌阿根廷国家队帅印。
马拉多纳在上周日接受当地媒体采访时表示，他希望留任，但前提是他有权利挑选助手。
老马的离任意味着阿根廷需为明年的美洲杯赛挑选一位新的主帅。
当地媒体称，前博卡青年队主帅卡洛斯•比安奇是接任马拉多纳的热门人选。比安奇曾在1998至2004年执教博卡青年队的两届任期内率队夺得多个国内联赛冠军和洲际冠军。
其他可能的人选包括大学生队主帅亚历克斯•萨贝利亚、独立队前主帅阿梅利科•加列戈、前国家队主帅马塞洛•贝尔萨、以及前河床队、国际米兰队、阿根廷队前锋拉蒙•迪亚斯。
spell: a continuous course or period of work or other activity（任期，做某事或在某处工作的一段时间）
renew the contract:续约
stint: a period of time spent doing something（从事某项工作或活动的时间）