Argentina Sack Coach Jorge Sampaoli After World Cup Ousted
Jul 16, 2018 at 1:39 PM
Argentina’s Football Association (AFA) have sacked coach Jorge Sampaoli after a horrible FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia. Argentina knocked out in the round of 16 after a 4-3 defeat against France.
Sampaoli oversaw a chaotic World Cup campaign in Russia that saw just one win in four games. The manager’s tactics and formations were also in question. He played with different line-ups and formations for each match and the 58-year old lost control of his squad.
A 1-1 draw to minnows Iceland followed by a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of now-finalists Croatia saw them reeling down in the group stage. However, the nervy 2-1 win over Nigeria secured their spot in the knock-out stages. Later, France outclassed Argentina in a 4-3 thriller in the pre-quarterfinals.
Sampaoli’s departure brings new worries for Argentina
Sampaoli, a coach with a fine track record in South American club football guided Chile to Copa America success in the past. He also did well in La Liga before taking over the national team of his native country.
However, a disastrous campaign and a governing body that continue to be one of the worst-run in world football have combined to necessitate his exit.
Sampaoli is keen to find a new job as soon as possible and was willing to remain in his post until the Copa America in 2019. But senior figures at the AFA made clear this was not an option.
Already in a financial hole, the AFA has got off lightly with Sampaoli’s departure. The negotiations saw him accept just over £1m compensation for his contract. The contract was slated to run until 2022, a significant discount on the £7.8m he could have held out for.
Argentina now faces the task of finding a new coach who is willing to work with one of global football’s most inept federations. Jose Pekerman has been linked with a role overseeing the country’s crumbling youth setup.
It had been believed that Sampaoli could take over Argentina’s Under-20s in a desperate bid to save his job. But that may also now be off the table.