Diego Maradona’s reign at Fujairah seems to be over after the club appeared to announce his dismissal hours after they failed to gain automatic promotion to the Arabian Gulf League on Friday.
The east coast club were held to a 1-1 draw against Khorfakkan in their final First Division fixture of the season, ensuring they finished third in the table and thus missed out on direct entry into the UAE top flight. The result prompted heated scenes both inside and outside the Fujairah Stadium.
However, Fujairah still retain the chance of promotion, given they face Arabian Gulf League (AGL) bottom club Hatta in a two-legged play-off next month. The tie was to take place on May 9 and May 13.
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Diego Maradona's Fujairah timeline
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It now looks as though Maradona will not be there to see the job through. Fujairah tweeted late on Friday that there would be a change in management, much to everyone's surprise, although Maradona’s representatives said they had not yet received official word from the club. Fujairah did not offer any further comment.
Appointed last May, the Argentine was tasked with guiding the club back into the AGL following a two-season absence. Maradona, 57, was given an initial one-year contract, but had the option to extend should his side be promoted.
Before Fujairah, he had last managed in the UAE’s top division, spending 14 months at Dubai’s Al Wasl between May 2011 and July 2012.
