Former soccer great Diego Maradona was officially sacked as Argentina’s manager on July 27 after almost two unsteady years on the job, culminating in a humiliating 4-0 thumping by Germany during the World Cup quarterfinals this summer in South Africa.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) made it official when it stated it wouldn’t renew Maradona’s contract. However, he could have kept the job if he agreed to get rid of his coaches as the federation offered him a four-year deal which would have lasted until after the 2014 World Cup. But Maradona replied that he’d only take the job if his coaching staff stayed with him.

The AFA would have none of that though, and its president Julio Grondona said the association unanimously agreed to clean house by letting Maradona and his coaches loose, one of whom is Maradona’s close friend, Alejandro Mancuso.

AFA spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo said it was a tough decision, but they didn’t see eye to eye with Maradona and his future aspirations, citing a wide gap that seemed impossible to narrow down. Bialo didn’t rule out a possible job in the future though for the 49-year-old former manager.

The AFA also announced that youth team manager Sergio Batista will take over the team for the time being, including its Aug. 11 friendly against Ireland in Dublin. Possible replacements for Maradona could include club managers Miguel Russo of Racing and Alejandro Sabella of Estudiantes. However, Bialo refused to comment on either of them.

Maradona held the manger’s title for 21 months after taking over from Alfio Basile in November 2008. He managed for 15 games, winning eight and losing seven, including two of the worst beatings in Argentina’s history with a 6-1 hammering by Bolivia in World Cup qualifying and the 4-0 loss to Germany in the World Cup.

Maradona, who has beaten alcohol and cocaine addictions, is seen as a hero by some Argentine fans and as an inexperienced and cheerleader by others. The country’s President Cristina Fernandez openly supported him, but Maradona has failed to respond to her requests to meet with her.