Chile to discuss Bielsa future after friendly
Reuters - Friday 14 January 2011, 23:11
SANTIAGO - Chile will make a last ditch
effort to retain their World Cup coach Marcelo Bielsa in talks
after the team's friendly against the U.S. next week, FA (ANFP)
president Sergio Jadue said on Friday.
Bielsa said he would quit in November when Jorge Segovia won
the ANFP election, but that result was declared null and void
because of a clash between Segovia's business affairs and his
position as president of first-division Union Espanola.
Jadue, who took office on Friday after winning the second
election in little more than two months, said he hoped to make
Bielsa change his mind.
"We will make all the necessary efforts to comply with the
objective (to retain Bielsa)," Jadue told a news conference.
"People talk about plans, of coaches, but that's totally
false. There's no plan B, no plan C," added Jadue about rumours
of candidates to follow Bielsa.
Local media said Argentine Jose Pekerman, who followed
Bielsa as Argentina's coach in 2004, was the main candidate to
take charge of Chile's "La Roja" (the red).
"Bielsa will be in contact with this (ANFP) presidency when
he comes back from the U.S. I think we must respect the
preparation of the team for this match," added Jadue.
Chile play the U.S. away on January 23.
Bielsa, appointed by former ANFP president Harold
Mayne-Nicholls in 2007, signed an extension to his contract
after the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa where they
reached the second round.