El KAISER OUT
By: Christian | November 15th, 2007
As was expected, Daniel Passarella announced earlier today his resignation as head coach.
In a brief statement read to the press, the much maligned River legend said that he would make good on his promise given in May that should the team end the year without a championship he would step down, and after last night’s heartbreaking elimination from the Copa Sudamericana, combined with the team out of contention for the league, today’s announcement was simply a formality.
Passarella was somber as he spoke, but remained noticeably defiant throughout. He implied that he was stepping down because he had given his word, not citing his own performance as manager as a cause. In addressing the fans he spoke only of the “true” River supporters, no doubt a swipe at the hundreds who protested inside the stadium multiple times this year calling for his removal. Though he did not specifically mention last night’s loss, he did say that the dressing room afterwards was one of the “saddest I have seen in my career,” noting that many players were in tears. Finally, he thanked the team for their hard work, and called Ariel Ortega’s recovery from alcoholism “more important than any sporting conquest.”
Since taking over for Reinaldo “Mostazo” Merlo at the beginning of last year, Passarella, Argentina’s captain during their 1978 World Cup win, was unable to bring a title to River, and his tactics were often criticized loudly by the fans and the media. His biggest triumphs, if one could call them that, were two massive wins at home against rivals Boca Juniors, but in the end, it was just not enough for one of Argentina’s biggest clubs. River meanwhile still have 3 games left in the league, though they are off this weekend for the international break, so an interim coach will be put in charge in the meantime. While there is no clear candidate for the position, one name that has been mentioned in recent weeks is Diego Simeone, currently at Estudiantes de La Plata, who led that squad to a league championship last season.
Category: 
Subscribe
|
Print
|
Share
      |
Comments
-
Who do you think will take over Christian?
Rangers and River!
Posted from
United States
-
I’m starting to like the idea of Simeone coming from Estudiantes, but would they really want to let him go? I think once the season ends next month we’ll have a better idea of who’s available.
Good luck in the CL, btw.
Posted from
United States -
River have a very big following amongst the Rangers support and have even tried a version of Sos Cagon at Ibrox, but as new songs are hard to take off it wasn’t a great success.
CL will be hard, Stuttgart just hitting form and Lyon back on top in France, but one win should see us through.
Cheers, Mark.Posted from
United States -
I’ve seen a lof of clubs try the Sos Cagon chant; it’s one of my favorites.
I believe that there is a Rangers supporters group near my house in Chicago. I should stop by and check it out.
Posted from
United States -
http://www.bluenosebars.com/USA.htm will tell you the locations of all Rangers bars/clubs in the USA.
Posted from
United States
Comments are closed
Home 
