Maradona hints at resignation

Argentina coach Diego Maradona hinted he may resign as he returned home following his side’s World Cup elimination, according to a report from Argentine cable channel Cronica TV.

“That’s it, my cycle has finished,” Maradona reportedly said as he arrived at his home here on Sunday evening. “I gave all I had.”

The day before, the captain of Argentina’s 1986 World Cup-winning side said: “I haven’t decided about my future yet. I have to talk to my family, the players and the federation. It depends on lots of things.”

Luis Segura, president of Maradona’s formative club Argentinos Juniors and a close friend of Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Julio Grondona, said that it was up to Maradona to decide on his future.

“The person who’ll have to decide if he continues or not is Maradona,” Segura told TyC sports channel.

“It depends on him. But Grondona has never interrupted a (national coach’s) contract and if Diego decides to continue, he’ll continue.

“I think he should see out his contract, which expires after next year’s Copa America in Argentina.”

Argentina, one of the pre-tournament favourites, were knocked out of the World Cup after losing 4-0 to Germany in the quarter-finals but were greeted by 10,000 cheering fans when they returned to the country on Sunday.