Gerardo Martino Resigns As Argentina National Team Coach.

La Albiceleste are once again mourning the exit of its coach Gerardo Martino after the country’s tumultuous week from losing the Copa America final to Chile on penalties.

Image: Gerardo Martino

Following the sad outing at the football tournament, Lionel Messi said he has retired from international fooball, and now their head coach has called it quits. Martino comes from the same northern city as Messi, Rosario.

Gerardo Martino has officially decided to leave his position as the head coach of the national side after another disappointing result.

“Losing again is too great a pain,” Martino said after that defeat.

Argentina have now lost three finals in three summers, two against Chile in the Copa America and one against the Germans in the 2014 World Cup but these losses aren’t the reasons Martino decided to leave.

Martino tendered an official statement to the Argentina Football Association informing them that he and his coaching staff are resigning due to management disputes in the association, and difficfulties in getting the squad together in time for the Olympics.

One of the reasons Martino has left his role is because of his difficulty in securing enough players for Argentina’s Olympic squad, just weeks before the tournament begins. Institutional turmoil remains within the Argentinian Football Association (AFA), making appointing a successor a difficult task.

Disagreements with the chosens players’ clubs don’t appear to be close to being solved anytime soon, and this unfortunate turn of events has compounded the situation, Marca reported.

Reports say that organizational politics has negatively affected the country’s best sport. A report blames the AFA as being responsible for the collapse of Argentina’s football and Messi’s sudden retirement from international duties.

Image: Gerardo Martino

“Owing to the lack of decisions in naming new authorities in the Argentine Football Association and serious problems in choosing the squad to represent the country at the upcoming Olympic Games, the national team’s coaching staff has decided to present its resignation today,” said a statement issued by the AFA in Martino’s name.

 

Argentina isn’t having problems only on the pitch. The country’s football body AFA is in trouble with FIFA, while a recent bomb threat in the headquarters saw buildings evacuated.

Javier Mascherano has also joined fellow compatroit Messi in retirement amongst others.

Things doesn’t seem to be getting better following Sergio Aguero’s likely retirment. His father Lionel said the player won’t return to the pitch if Messi doesn’t come back.

Image: Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi returning to Argentina after Copa America 2016.

In his words: “Kun” has been one of Messi’s most loyal friends since their days in the Argentina Under-20 squad. Even after the painful defeat for the team in the Copa America final against Chile, Messi went to Aguero’s house in Rosario.

“If Leo leaves the international team permanently, Sergio will also go,” Leonel Aguero said.

“He will leave it up to the new players as the journalists have said that their era is over.”

Image: Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo has sent his condolences to Messi over the sad events facing his country’s football. CR7 said: “[Messi] has made a tough decision [to retire from international football] and people should understand it.

“He isn’t accustomed to defeats and disappointments, not even finishing second. Missing a penalty doesn’t make you a bad player.

“It hurts to see Messi in tears and I hope he returns to his country one day because they need him.”