Al Wasl did not reap the benefits as expected under Diego Maradona's tutelage. The Saudi Arabian club finished eighth in a 12 team league and the final straw was when Al Muharaq, a Bahraini club beat Al Wasl on penalties after both clubs tied on aggregate over both legs of a local tournament. Al Wasl led 3-1 in the first leg away and it was expected that they would easily win at home in the second leg.
In anticipation, the club's owner Sheik Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum even attended the match but the Bahraini club forced a penalty shootout which they won after winning the second leg by an identical, 3-1. It was enough humiliation for the Dubai ruling family and Maradona was shown the door. He did put Al Wasl on the map though with his profile and with his antics.
One more stopover in Maradona's rambling circumlocutions post football god.
Maradona became a successful soccer player, but did not become a successful soccer coach...