February 6 – Argentine World Cup winner Mario Kempes has been sacked from his ambassadorial role with Spain’s Valencia for fiercely criticising the team after their 4-0 thrashing at home to Eibar.
After Saturday’s defeat, which left Valencia six points above the relegation zone, Kempes said on Twitter: “Lamentably this is a team that is utterly lost. There’s no style of play, no leadership and very little enthusiasm.”
Hours later he announced his role with the club had been terminated. “Today I have officially been informed I am no longer the ambassador of Valencia,” he said.
“But my sentiments for the club will not change, and I’ll keep giving my opinions when I think things are not right.”
Kempes, who famously helped Argentina win World Cup for the first time as top scorer in 1978, is also Valencia’s third highest all-time scorer. The club are the fifth most successful team in Spain but this is one of their worst seasons in recent years with current caretaker coach Salvador Gonzalez the third person to take charge of the team following the departures of Pako Ayesteran and Cesare Prandelli.
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