The Costa Rica coach, Jorge Luis Pinto, has resigned his position with the World Cup quarter-finalists because he was refused the right to choose his own backroom staff.
“I realised I would not be able to count on conditions to carry out my work,” the 61-year-old Colombian said on his personal website.
Pinto’s contract ended after the World Cup in Brazil where rank outsiders Costa Rica reached the last eight for the first time in their history, with impressive group-stage victories over Uruguay and Italy.
“It wasn’t possible to reach an agreement,” he added. “I ask myself: ‘What use are the victories obtained in Brazil?”
The Costa Rican football federation president, Eduardo Lee, confirmed at a news conference that the two parties had not managed to agree new terms on a contract.
Costa Rica were unbeaten in four World Cup matches before going out on penalties to Holland, who they had held to a 0-0 draw and have since leapt 12 places in Fifa’s world rankings to an all-time high of 16th.
Pinto said disagreements with members of his backroom team became the central issue in negotiations with Lee. “Some of my staff don’t have my style. I’ve had differences with my staff, I want dedication and commitment,” he said. “A year and a half ago a member of my staff told president Lee to get rid of me, that with me we weren’t going to the World Cup. I slept with the enemy for a year and a half.
“It hurts me to leave Costa Rica because I did an outstanding job here. I demanded the staff be dismissed and they didn’t accept,” said Pinto of the federation.
Lee said the people of Costa Rica “would always be grateful” to Pinto. “I want to thank Pinto with all my heart for his work which no doubt was the key to obtaining the successes we got in Brazil,” he said.
Trending
- Navigating boss-subordinate relationship, by Kenechukwu Aguolu
- Ubabukoh family releases burial plans for veteran journalist
- Ms Courage (2), by Bassey Ubong
- Eve’s Desire: Sex: Dos and Don’ts
- YABATECH to train informal sectors for global certification
- NNPC/SNEPCo boosts e-learning with digital library at Niger Delta University
- Mysterious illness: Sokoto records right deaths, 208 suspected cases
- NASCON suspends merger plans with Dangote Sugar, Rice