BUENOS AIRES: Ricardo Gareca, the longest serving coach at one team in the Argentine top flight, has decided to leave Velez Sarsfield after winning four trophies during five years in charge.
Gareca, 55, told sporting manager Christian Bassedas, the former Velez, Newcastle United and Argentina midfielder, of his decision in a three-hour meeting late on Monday.
“...Ricardo Gareca communicated his decision not to continue as coach of... Velez Sarsfield after five years of maximum success and despite the board’s offer to renew his contract,” the club said on their website (www.velezsarsfield.com.ar).
The ex-Argentina striker, who took charge in January 2009, won three league crowns and the grand final between the 2012/13 season’s two champions — his ‘Inicial’—winning Velez and Newell’s Old Boys, who won the ‘Final’ title.
Gareca, whose side finished joint second to San Lorenzo in the 2013-14 season’s Inicial championship that ended on Dec.15, had hinted last month he wanted to try new pastures.
His successor looks likely to come from reserve team coach Hector Almandoz or former Velez striker Omar Asad, who has coached San Lorenzo and Mexico’s Atlas.
San Lorenzo also face the rest of the season under a new coach after Juan Antonio Pizzi decided to accept an offer from Valencia.
Reuters