Alejandro Sabella quits as coach of Argentina national team; Tata Martino to suceed?
Alejandro Sabella has resigned as the coach of the Argentina national team after their 1-0 defeat to Germany in the just concluded FIFA World Cup final.
Media outlets in Argentina had claimed that Sabella has already informed the Argentine football association of his decision to quit. The 59-year old had taken over as coach of the national team after their early exit at the 2011 Copa America; Argentina had failed to get past the quarter-final stage since the 1990 FIFA World Cup, so for Sabella to have taken Argentina to the World Cup final, with a largely mediocre squad, illustrates the tremendous job he has done in the last 3 years.
Sabella has been considering his future with the national team for some time now, indicating just a couple of weeks back that he has his doubts over whether he has the required desire to continue in his prestigious role.
“You have to fill the energy tank, which sometimes gets empty. I have to think if I’m in condition to give 100 per cent," Sabella said.
Who will succeed Sabella as Argentina’s head coach?
With Argentina’s preparations for the 2015 Copa America about to get underway soon, they will have to begin their search for Sabella’s successor quickly.
Colombia boss Jose Pekerman, who took Colombia to the quarter-final stage of the World Cup and previously coached Argentina in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, is one of the favourites for the job along with Gerardo Martino, who recently resigned as manager of Barcelona after an unsuccessful season at the club.
Argentine journalist Fernando Czyz confirms the story:
(Translation: “Gerardo Martino will be the new coach for the Argentina national team; all roads lead to Tata; A meeting will be held this week.)