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Thus ends the role of Diego Maradona as coach for Argentine National Football Team. His contract was ended yesterday (27th July, 2010). This decision was taken by the country's soccer association, AFA, because Maradona wasn’t prepared to accept changes to his coaching staff.

The Argentine Football Association’s executive committee “unanimously resolved” not to renew the deal after AFA President Julio Grondona relayed details of his meeting with Maradona a day earlier, the governing body said in a statement.

Differences between Maradona and Grondona “were impossible to resolve,” association spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo told reporters in Buenos Aires. Maradona, 49, said on Argentine television this week that he wouldn’t continue in the post he took in late 2008 if the association insisted on him changing his coaching staff.

Diego Maradona had led Argentina through some impressive performances during the World Cup 2010 before being demolished by Germany 0-4 in the quarter-finals.

Brazil has named its new football coach. Mano Menezes is now the new coach of Brazil's National football team. Brazil has named Menezes name on Saturday and signed him till 2014 World Cup that would be held in Brazil.

Earlier Muricy Ramalho was the first choice to replace Dunga, but he turned down the offer and opted to stay in Brazilian club Fluminense.

Menezes coached Brazilian club Corinthians from 2008-10. He was released from his contract with the club to become Brazil's new manager. Menezes previously coached Brazilian club Gremio.

"I have always dreamed of one day becoming the national team's coach, and that day came sooner than I expected," Menezes told a news conference.

Menezes led Gremio to promotion to Brazil's top division in 2005. He also led the team to second place in the Copa Libertadores, which is South America's top club event, during his tenure. Menezes also returned Corinthians to the top flight and claimed the Brazilian Cup last season with the club.

Brazil will play its first match under Menezes on Aug. 10 against the United States.

Vicente Del Bosque, the Spain coach, has banned all social network sites - such as Facebook and Twitter - during the World Cup as he sets his sights on blighting all outside distractions. Del Bosque implemented the move before the Spanish squad left their training camp in Las Rozas, outside Madrid, and the national coach has said that the ban would remain in South Africa.

An official for the Spanish FA said that Del Bosque wanted “no distractions” as the European champions look to win the biggest prize in football.

News Courtesy: Telegraph.co.uk

Usain Bolt and Olympic women's 400m hurdles champion Melanie Walker were named Jamaica's male and female athletes of the year for 2008 on Tuesday (9th December, 2008).

"It is good to be recognised by the JAAA because they have done a lot of work by trying to develop the athletes and track and field in Jamaica overall," Bolt said. "I really appreciate it."

Bolt's coach Glen Mills was voted Coach of the Year.

Diego Maradona made his debut as Argentina's coach Wednesday (19th Nov, 2008), his team beating Scotland 1-0 in an exhibition game in the stadium where he scored the first goal of his extraordinary international career.

Maxi Rodriguez scored in the eighth minute at Hampden Park for an Argentina.

The datum that Argentina had enjoyed 73 per cent of possession to the Scots' 27 per cent in the first ten minutes of the match was a statistic that told no lie. Instead, the figure was an entirely true illustration of the visitors' superiority, which they themselves substantiated with the goal that gave them their early lead.

The home players, as usual, could not be accused of a lack of energy and commitment, but their best chance of achieving their objective seemed for most of the time to reside in the unsafe hands of Carrizo. The Lazio goalkeeper gave another example of his unreliability from a corner kick that, with a kinder bounce of the ball, would have brought the Scots level.

Picture Courtesy: Google AFP Pictures

Scots man, Everton manager David Moyes has signed a new five-year deal with his old club. Moyes had been in the final year of his previous deal and talks over an extension had rumbled on for some time. However, 45-year-old David Moyes has often stated his intention to remain at Goodison Park.


Daid said: "There have been many different things for different reasons but we are here now and the big thing for me is that I am at Everton, as fas as I am concerned, for another five years and the job is to make us better than we have been. I am really excited and really pleased, I am pleased for everybody. I'm pleased for myself and my family who were desperate to get it signed and secured and it is always what I wanted to do."

Jamie Siddons, the Bangladesh coach, is suing Cricket Australia, claiming he injured his shoulder throwing cricket balls during his time as Australia's assistant coach. The Herald Sun reported a writ had been lodged in the Victorian Supreme Court in which Siddons says he has suffered injury, loss and damage, although no monetary figure is quoted.

Siddons claims he has ongoing problems with his right shoulder as a result of hours of throw-downs on a "constant, repetitive and forceful basis" during the 2005 Ashes tour of England. John Buchanan, the Australia coach during that trip, confirmed Siddons had suffered shoulder troubles.

"I can verify he threw a lot of cricket balls on the tour," Buchanan told the paper. "We knew he was injured when he returned from the tour. We knew he had an injury sustained from throwing. There's no doubt about that."

Football Association of Georgia has offered their national coach's job to former Chelsea coach Avram Grant.

“I have spoken with Grant and we have offered him the job. We will speak again." - GFF president Nodar Akhalkatsi.

Leo Beenhakker, Poland's coach refused to resign after Poland's dismal performance in Euro 2008. Poland is out of Euro 2008 after they were beaten by Croatia 1-0.

Beenhakker's contract with Poland has been extended to take him through to the end of 2010 World Cup qualifying but his side's poor performance in their first European Championship has led to speculation that he may resign.

"I signed the contract in November, which allows me to coach Poland in the next two years," said the 65-year-old, Leo Beenhakker, asked to comment on his future.

Luiz Felipe Scolari has been named the Chelsea football club manager and he will paid £6.25m-a-season over the next three years in what is one of the biggest deals ever agreed in world football.

Even so Scolari has not yet signed a contract. His negotiations are being handled by the agent Jorge Mendes, who has developed into one of the most powerful men in football and who, ironically, also represents Jose Mourinho who was sacked by Chelsea last year.

Dutch coach and former Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard has said that he is prepared to take a year off from football and dedicate more time to his children. He aslo said that he will review offers from football clubs only if it is exceptional.

Rijkaard's son Mitchell and daughter Lindsay are said to be enjoying in Barcelona and he is keen on his stay in Barcelona city and also allow his son to stay in his current school.

After spending some time in the United States and Holland, Rijkaard has returned to Barcelona and watched Holland's victory over Italy on Monday.

Barcelona who has sacked Frank Rijkaard has agreed to pay him half of his salary for the remaining year that he had on his contract with the club.

Belarus ice hockey team Dinamo Minsk has offered the coach's job to Wayne Fleming, a Canadian. Fleming said that he say "yes" or "no" to the offer on June 4.

The 57-year old is now assistant coach with the NHL's Calgary Flames. Wayne Fleming led Team Canada at the 2001 World Championship. He is now the second Canadian coach after who has been offered by Dinamo Minsk after John Paddock turned down the offer earlier this year.

Assistant Manager of Chelsea footbal club Henk Ten Cate was sacked yesterday. This is another big news in English football after the sacking of Avram Grant last Saturday.

Chief Executive Peter Kanyon called Ten Cate yesterday to a meeting at which he ws told to leave his job at Chelsea, because all leading candidates to succeed Avram Grant had indicated that they do not want to keep Ten Cate and they would prefer appointing their own staffs.

John Terry of Chelsea was named the captain of England by England's manager Fabio Capello for one match against USA, to be played on Wednesday. Other than John Terry's captaincy, Capello also declared that he will use Rooney as a second striker.

No names were declared as captain for the Saturday match against Trinidad and Tobago.