Berizzo replaces Sabella at Estudiantes
Reuters - Monday 07 February 2011, 15:14
BUENOS AIRES, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Argentine champions
Estudiantes, who begin the defence of their Apertura title on
Friday, have signed Eduardo Berizzo as their coach following
Alex Sabella's shock resignation last week.
Berizzo, right-hand man to Marcelo Bielsa with the Chile
national team from 2007 until the 2010 World Cup finals, will
begin his first job as a head coach on Tuesday after being
officially unveiled, Estudiantes said on Monday.
The 41-year-old Berizzo played as a central defender under
Bielsa for Newell's Old Boys in the early 1990s and Argentina in
the late 90s. He also played for River Plate, Olympique
Marseille and Celta Vigo.
Sabella, who steered Estudiantes to a Libertadores Cup
triumph and the domestic Apertura in less than two years at the
helm, told leading players including captain Juan Sebastian
Veron he was quitting over differences with the club board.
The players, however, said they were upset with Sabella's
timing and their perception that he was betraying his own
philosophy of all pulling together in times of need.
Estudiantes are at home to Newell's Old Boys in the opening
match of the Clausura championship, second of two in the 2010/11
season, on Friday.