Following Ecuador’s loss to Argentina in the Copa America quarterfinal on Thursday, the football federation (FEF) of the nation announced the dismissal of head coach Felix Sanchez. Ecuador advanced to the round of eight for the third time in the previous four editions, however, after a 1-1 draw, the reigning champions eliminated them in a penalty shootout.
📍Comunicado oficial
La FEF informa que el dia de hoy se ha acordado la terminación del vínculo contractual con el Director Técnico Félix Sánchez Bas.
Agradecemos a Félix y su cuerpo técnico por su trabajo y profesionalismo, y le deseamos éxito en sus futuros proyectos.…
— FEF 🇪🇨 (@FEFecuador) July 5, 2024
Quarterfinal Heartbreak
The Spanish manager, who led Qatar to its first-ever AFC Asian Cup victory in 2019, inked a four-year deal in March of the previous year. The FEF stated, “We appreciate Felix and his coaching team’s hard work and professionalism, and we wish him luck in all of his future endeavors.”
After the match, the 48-year-old coach stated that he was excited for September’s World Cup qualifiers, even though Ecuador is currently fifth in the standings, even though they had lost the Copa America. He also stated that he did not want to talk about his future.
Future Outlook
“We made it to the knockout stage after advancing from the group stage. Even if we were unable to advance, I have congratulated the guys,” he said to reporters. “In my view, they merit recognition, but I also believe that we’ll have a more accomplished squad when we return for the next competition. “These athletes are quite young. Even though the outcomes might not have been fair, we still need to have faith in this group of athletes.
Conclusion
Ecuador’s decision to part ways with Felix Sanchez marks a significant turning point as they look to rebuild and prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Sanchez’s tenure, though brief, highlighted the potential and resilience of Ecuador’s young squad. His optimism about the team’s future underscores the foundation he helped lay, despite the setbacks.
The FEF now faces the challenge of finding a new head coach who can build on this groundwork and navigate the team through the critical qualifying matches. As Ecuadorian football moves forward, the focus will be on leveraging the experience gained during Sanchez’s leadership to achieve greater success on the international stage. The football community will closely watch how Ecuador progresses under new leadership, hoping to see the team’s potential realized in future competitions.
READ: BRAZIL AND COLOMBIA CLASH IN COPA AMERICA 2024 GROUP D MATCH