After firing Jorge Sampaoli in July, Argentina national soccer team is looking for a new coach. According to the latest reports by Argentinian media, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) could turn to a familiar face and has Atlanta United’s head coach Gerardo Tata Martino as their number one candidate.
Still, Martino, who coached Argentina from 2014 to 2016, denies that AFA contacted him to fill the vacant coaching position.
“I have not spoken to anyone from Argentina, and additionally, I am currently working and under contract with Atlanta and that would have to be resolved first,” – the 55-year-old told Radio Caracol.”I am not interested in making clarifications about the situation via the media, but no one [from AFA] has said anything to me yet.“
Following a great job he has been doing with Atlanta United, Gerardo Tata Martino emerged as a candidate to take over several other national teams besides Argentina including Colombia. While Martino doesn’t deny that he likes the interest, he said that he wouldn’t decide on his future until the current MLS season is over.
“It pleases me to know that I would be held under consideration, but right now I am under contract with Atlanta, and once the MLS season is over, we will see what the future holds.” – he said.
Tata Martino started his coaching career by managing several clubs in Argentina and Paraguay, while also successfully coaching Paraguay national team from 2007 to 2011. He gained an unexpected opportunity to take over La Liga giants Barcelona in 2013 but decided to leave the club just a year later after failing to win a single major trophy. After a stint with Argentina, which ended after two years, Martino took over Atlanta United for the club’s inaugural season in MLS.
In his first season with the team, Tata Martino managed to take Atlanta to the 2017 MLS playoffs, finishing third in the Eastern Conference. In this season, Atlanta is playing even better with a strong chance to secure the top seed in the upcoming six games.
