River sack coach Cappa
Reuters - Tuesday 09 November 2010, 01:49
BUENOS AIRES - River Plate, with the
threat of their first relegation hanging over them, sacked
coach Angel Cappa on Monday after a run of seven matches
without a win.
A statement by the club, one of Argentina's oldest and most
successful, said River had "resolved to sever Mr Angel Cappa
(from the post) as coach of the first division team.
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"In the coming hours, it will be decided who will be the
next coach of the professional squad," River said on their
website.
River, 11th in the Apertura championship with 18 points
from 13 matches after a 1-0 upset defeat by promoted All Boys
on Sunday, face arch-rivals Boca Juniors in their next match on
November 16 under caretaker JJ Lopez.
"At no moment did I think of resigning... I wasn't expecting
this (sacking), but I can't say it surprised me," Cappa had
told TyC Sports television in an interview earlier confirming
the River board had decided to end his contract.
Club president Daniel Passarella, Argentina's 1978 World
Cup-winning captain, appointed Cappa in April five matches
before the end of last season after he steered Huracan to a
surprise second place in the 2008-09 Clausura championship.
"I don't like to interfere in other people's decisions and
(Passarella) must have taken this one thinking it was best for
River and I have to respect that," Cappa, 63, said.
"My contract was for 38 matches and this is very soon to
make a decision," Cappa said. "I was in a process of looking
(for my team). In 18 matches I had 50 percent of the points
which isn't bad."
Former River midfielder and coach Americo Gallego is
favourite to take charge of the team, who languish in a
promotion playoff berth with a poor three-season relegation
average.
POOR SEASON
Gallego has been out of a job since he coached
Independiente last season but did not have his contract renewed
in June.
Another option touted by media, who have been asking fans
who is their favourite, is Marcelo Bielsa, who said last week
he was leaving his job as Chile coach as a new board is set to
take charge of the Chilean FA.
It has been one of the worst seasons ever for both of
Argentina's most successful clubs with Boca in 13th place one
point behind River, who won the last of their record 33 league
titles in the 2008 Clausura.
Juan Sebastian Veron's Estudiantes lead the championship,
the first of two in the season, with 30 points. Velez Sarsfield
are second with 27 points.
Cappa said the high turnover of coaches in Argentine
football was due to what is known here as "short-termism" in
which the need for good results is immediate, exacerbated by
the season being divided into two 19-match championships.
"I'm sure it's going to be modified," Cappa said, which
followed Argentine Football Association president Julio
Grondona hinting not so long ago at a return to one
traditional, all-season championship.
"The standard gets worse and worse because there is no time
to work," Cappa said.