BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Diego Maradona has turned 50 with little fanfare, calling it the “saddest birthday” because of Argentina’s loss in the World Cup.
The former Argentina coach told sports daily Ole he intended to spend Saturday quietly at his home in the Buenos Aires suburb of Ezeiza. He said he began his mourning period when the team was knocked out of the World Cup.
It has been a difficult year for the famous No. 10, who led Argentina into the World Cup but fell 4-0 to Germany in the quarterfinals. The loss led the Argentina Football Association to drop him as coach.
Interim coach Sergio Batista is expected to be confirmed Tuesday as Maradona’s replacement.
