Diego Maradona has been sacked as national team coach of Argentina, said Argentine Football Association (AFA) spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo.

"The president put some salient points to Maradona in their long conversation yesterday," Cherquis said in an interview.

"And the executive committee unanimously resolved not to renew Maradona's contract as technical director of the national team," Cherquis said to the reporters.

Maradona's record as coach over the period was not so impressive with the national team only just qualifying for the recently concluded FIFA World Cup in South Africa.  He served as the national coach for 21 months. Argentina had to face a shameful defeat to Germany in the World Cup quarter-finals. Germany won the match 4-0.

Earlier, Maradona had expressed his desire to continue in his role provided he could keep his assistants intact.

Previously, Maradona had been offered a four-year contract to continue through the 2014 World Cup.