After leading Argentina to back-to-back major tournament wins, Lionel Scaloni stunned reporters by saying he is considering resigning from his role. Scaloni made the surprise announcement following Argentina’s hard-fought 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory against rival Brazil on Tuesday night.
The 45-year-old Scaloni took over Argentina in 2018 after a brief stint coaching their under-20 side. Since then, he has led them to their first Copa America triumph in 28 years in 2021, beat Euro champions Italy 3-0 in the 2022 Finalissima, and guided them to a long-awaited third World Cup title in December. His accomplishments have returned Argentina to the pinnacle of international football.
Despite his legendary status, Scaloni admitted the demanding job has taken its toll, saying “Argentina needs a coach who has all the energy possible and who is well.” He continued, “I need to stop the ball and start thinking. The bar is very high, and it’s complicated to keep going and keep winning.” His comments suggest the physical and mental strain of staying on top has him questioning his future. Additionally, you can also read about- Lionel Scaloni – An Exclusive Guru of the Argentina Team
Cristian Romero and his Argentina teammates will try to convince their world-class manager to continue leading them amid concerns over his resignation. But for now, Scaloni says he just needs time to weigh up his options carefully. Regardless of his final decision, his tenure will be remembered as an era of incredible highs after years of disappointment for passionate Argentine fans.
