Sampaoli parts company with Argentina after big stage flop
ARGENTINA’S Football Assocation has reached the basics of a financial agreement with Jorge Sampaoli’s representatives that will see the former Sevilla coach leave his post by mutual consent.
Sampaoli (left) oversaw a chaotic World Cup campaign in Russia that saw just one win in four games and wildly different line-ups and formations for each match as the 58 year-old lost control of his squad.
A coach with a fine track record in South American club football, Sampaoli guided Chile to Copa America success and then did well in La Liga before taking over the national team of his home nation but 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 at least the Copa America in 2019 but senior figures at the AFA made clear that this was not an option, despite there being a train of thought that he may be better-suited to the impending rebuild than any other coach.
Already in a financial hole, the AFA have got off lightly with Sampaoli’s departure after negotiations saw him accept just over £1m compensation for his contract that was slated to run until 2022, a significant discount on the £7.8m he could have held out for. Argentina now face the task of finding a new coach willing to work with one of global football’s most inept federations and are expected to target lower-cost, domestic candidates like Marcelo Gallardo, manager of River Plate.
Jose Pekerman, who took Colombia to the World Cup knockout rounds, has been linked with a role overseeing the country’s crumbling youth setup.