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Argentina coach Basile quits after Chile loss
Argentina coach Alfio Basile quit on Thursday, the day after his team lost 1-0 to Chile in a 2010 World Cup qualifier, the Argentina Football Association (AFA) said.
Argentina coach Alfio Basile quit on Thursday, the day after his team lost 1-0 to Chile in a 2010 World Cup qualifier, the Argentina Football Association (AFA) said.
"Basile spoke to the president of AFA (Julio Grondona) and quit for personal reasons," AFA spokesman Ernesto Cherquis told reporters.
"The national teams committee tried to persuade him to postpone his decision but Basile was very decided, very determined (and) the resignation has been accepted."
Basile had been under increasing pressure following a series of poor results and performances from one of the world's most talented teams.
The gravel-voiced coach was appointed in July 2006 for his second stint in the job, having previously been in charge from 1991 to 1994, a period which included the World Cup finals in the United States.
He led Argentina to last year's Copa America final where they were thumped 3-0 by Brazil.
He came under increasing pressure after a run of six successive draws but appeared to have weathered the storm with a 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Uruguay on Saturday.
However, fans were shocked by the way their team were outclassed by Chile on Wednesday as they lost to their neighbours for the first time in 35 years.
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
