Gerardo Martino has resigned from his post as coach of the Argentina national team, less than one month before the start of the Olympic Games.
The ex-Barcelona man had pledged to continue at the helm after a second Copa America final defeat to Chile in June.
But the retirement of Lionel Messi, institutional chaos at the Argentine Football Association and serious issues over squad selection ahead of the Olympic Games forced a change of mind, as he revealed his decision during a meeting on Tuesday.
In its announcement, the governing body revealed that Martino and his entire coaching staff stepped down.
“The national team’s technical team have decided to hand in their resignation on this day [Tuesday],” the AFA confirmed in a statement released on its website.
“Due to uncertainty over the designation of new authorities in the Argentine Football Association and the serious problems in putting together the team that will represent the country in the Olympic Games, the team has chosen to resign.”
In total the coach won 19 of the 29 games he directed, with seven draws and three defeats.
But the failure to lift silverware on two occasions made the trainer a focus for criticism from many fans and observers, as Argentina’s title drought now stands at 23 years after they fell short in three consecutive finals.
