BUENOS AIRES – Lionel Scaloni will stay on as Argentina’s coach at least until the end of this summer’s Copa America, in which the Albiceleste will defend their title, local media reported on Jan 15.
The news comes after the Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia met Scaloni to discuss the national team’s upcoming friendlies in China ahead of the June 20-July 14 continental tournament in the United States.
Gaston Edul, a sports journalist for pay television sports channel TyC Sports in Argentina, reported the news and said in a social media post: “Surely, in the next few days, an official voice will confirm it.”
His account was backed by Italian transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, who tweeted that Scaloni and Tapia had convened and the 45-year-old would continue in his post for the Copa.
Argentina have lifted the trophy a joint-record 15 times, alongside Uruguay. They are in Group A alongside Peru, Chile and a Concacaf play-off qualifier.
Scaloni had cast doubt over his future in the post in November, when Argentina beat Brazil in South American World Cup qualifiers, saying: “It’s complicated to keep going and it’s complicated to keep winning.”
His shocking pronouncement came out of nowhere during his press conference at the Maracana.
“Argentina need a coach who has all the energy possible and who is well... I need to stop the ball and start thinking. I have a lot of things to think about during this time,” Scaloni, who took no questions, said in his opening remarks.
“These players have given a lot to the coaching staff and I need to think a lot about what I’m going to do.
“It’s not goodbye or anything, but I need to think because the bar is very high... These guys are making it difficult, so I need to think about it for a while.”
Argentina top Conmebol’s 2026 World Cup qualifying standings after winning five of six games so far.
Scaloni took over as coach in 2018 and led Argentina to the Copa America title in 2021 – their first major trophy since the 1993 edition – and their third world title in Qatar the following year.
His captain Lionel Messi retired from the international game in 2016 before returning to reassume the huge burden of expectation of success from a country where football has been likened to a religion.
“We are sure and hope that Scaloni will continue,” said Argentina defender Cristian Romero, when the coach made his surprise admission in November.
“He will have time to think. He didn’t say anything in the dressing room about it. We will try to convince him.”
For the friendlies in China, which will take place in March, Argentina will play the hosts and a European team, possibly Croatia, Turkey, the Czech Republic or Hungary, according to reports. REUTERS, AFP
