Diego Maradona has left his post as Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata boss less than three months after taking charge of the Argentinian Primera Division side.
Heralded as one of world football’s greatest ever players, Maradona’s coaching career has seen yet another casualty having only taken the reins of the club in September.
The club were undergoing club elections to see who would take up the role of club president, with Maradona previously stating that he would only remain in charge if current president Gabriel Pellegrino stayed in his position.
Taking over the club based just outside of Buenos Aires, Maradona was tasked with helping them avoid relegation after a stuttering start to the season. He lost his first three games in charge and despite going on to win three of the following five since then, Gimnasia still remain in the relegation zone, three points from safety.
The news was broken via local radio station La Red by Pellegrino and, speaking of his departure on his official Instagram account, Maradona expressed his sadness at the decision.
“This decision hurt me with all my soul,” he said, as relayed by Sky Sports.
“I felt that everyone together…were finding the way for Gimnasia to stay in the first division. This was the moment to keep going with the project and look for the necessary reinforcements.
“I hope that whoever comes in to manage the club can continue with the work we started and keep Gimnasia where it belongs. I wish you all the best, with all my heart.”
The move marks yet another abrupt end to one of Maradona’s managerial exploits, with just one of his six roles as a club boss lasting more than one year. To date, his spell with Al Wasl of the United Arab Emirates saw him remain at the helm for the longest, 14 months, coming between 2011 and 2012. Prior to that he was in the dugout at Mexican outfit Dorados de Sinaloa, but that stint lasted only nine months.