[ad_1]
Reinaldo Rueda’s last days as coach of the Chilean team have been like a chess match. The still coach of La Roja had been very cautious when speaking about his future. When last Friday he asked the president of the ANFP, Pablo Milad for a vacation, argued that he needed them to solve family problems regarding his wife, who, according to the DT circle, has suffered too much with the confinement in Santiago, a product of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Quilín they understood his reasons, but, at the same time, they suspected what would be the trainer’s next move: negotiate his arrival to the Colombian national team. The coffee press pointed to him as the main candidate to replace the Portuguese Carlos Queiroz, fired after the resounding last double date of the Qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, where he was thrashed by Uruguay (0-3) and Ecuador (6-1) , two direct rivals in the fight for qualification.
In the Caribbean lands, the memory of his successful time at Atlético Nacional de Medellín is still very much alive, the club with which he won the 2016 Copa Libertadores de América. and with the one who reached the final of the Copa Sudamericana that same year, a contest that they gave to Chapecoense of Brazil, after the plane crash that ended the life of almost the entire team. In addition, he had already been Colombia’s DT, heading to Germany 2006, when he also took office in the middle of a poor campaign by his predecessor.
It was the subject of debate in the ANFP board of directors. Let it go or hold it? Was his departure a benefit or a problem? The answers were always linked to the economic factor, which they constantly complain about in Quilín. Criticisms point to the former president Arturo Salah, for the contract that DT has. “He has a very high salary, just like his staff, as well as numerous and succulent prizes,” they claim. As they say, the previous administrations did not think about the finances of the association.
Paying him his remuneration became in 2020 a real headache, both for Sebastián Moreno’s board of directors and for Milad’s. The pandemic was a blow to the federal coffers. In fact, Rei had to assume a significant reduction in his salary twice, close to 50%, due to the delicate economy of the headquarters located in Peñalolén.
For this reason, his eventual departure appeared as the ideal moment to free himself from a very heavy load, which implied a great expense and that, to top it off, was not justified by the poor sporting results achieved by the National Team in the first four days of the Qualifiers, where he barely adds four points, including a blushing and historic defeat against Venezuela, in Caracas. Additionally, the exit clause established in the contract amounts to US $ 2,230,000, equivalent to one year of salary, so there was also an opportunity to obtain some liquidity in lean times.
In that sense, the ANFP’s move was as follows: wait for the matter to be formalized and allow the technician to leave without paying the full amount of termination, but only half, so as not to scare away the interest of the Colombian federation. In Quilín they say that they are aware that the coronavirus has affected the funds of all Conmebol member associations, so US $ 1 million is a reasonable figure. In addition, they do not forget that three weeks ago, after the fall against Vinotinto, Rueda did not want to leave for good. “He demanded the payment of all compensation,” they warn at the head table. That made the term of the contract impossible.
As much as the Colombian press assumes the arrival of Triple R, the concrete thing is that just yesterday the strategist formally communicated to the ANFP that he has an offer from Colombia. Furthermore, Milad himself acknowledged that Ramón Jesurún, helmsman of the Colombian soccer federation, called him to ask for authorization and seal the agreement with the DT. “The Colombian federation asked me to speak with him and I accepted it, maintaining deference and respect”, assured the curican to Third. If Rueda and the Colombian federation already have the arrangement, it was behind Chile’s back.
With the pieces already positioned on the board, the game is already in its central stage of development, where each one has deployed their strategies. The last hours have been marked by intense negotiations between the ANFP and the FCF. “We are in talks.” These are the typical tug of war to earn or save a few more dollars. For now, Rueda will travel to Cali in the next few days, where he will most likely seal his arrival at the Colombian team and resign from the Red. Then you will go to Canada to visit your children.
Beyond diplomacy, the situation has generated some annoyance in the association. This, due to the vacation that the coach requested. In the ANFP they hope that their arrival in Colombia will be arranged as soon as possible, hopefully before the DT holidays, so that they do not have to pay them. If the operation were delayed until January, they would have to pay him one more salary, which is not pleasant at all.
Just Milad revealed in Third Jesurún’s call to request authorization to take Rueda, dozens of technical resumes reached Quilín, they tell the association, somewhat surprised. And they will continue to come, without a doubt.
The truth is to think about the new coach of the Red already there are some clear clues. Whoever comes will earn much less than Rei, since there is no money in the ANFP. For this reason, those interested will have to privilege the sporting aspect over the economic aspect.
The idea of an important sector of the directory It is rejuvenating the bank, since, during all this time, they saw the Colombian, who is already 63 years old, very exhausted. The poor results and the criticism had him tired and worn out, as well as the imminent arrival of the Spanish-British Francis Cagigao, former head of scouting at Arsenal, as national sports director.
“It has to be someone young, energetic, hungry for triumphs and eager for success,” they warn in Quilín. Beyond the versions that point to Ariel Holan (60), UC coach, or Gustavo Quinteros (55), coach of Colo Colo, as the favorites in the race for the Red bench, sources from the Peñalolén headquarters they claim that those names are not even at the top of the list. In addition, a good part of the Council of Presidents does not see with good that the ANFP seeks to raise the technician to one of its associates.
Anyway, the search has already begun in Quilín, where they hope that Cagigao will also play a fundamental role in the election of the new coach. His knowledge of the technical market in Europe opens an attractive and even unknown range of options to the ANFP, where they do not rule out candidates such as Gabriel Heinze (42), former Vélez and currently without a club, or Hernán Crespo (45), with a great campaign with Defense and Justice in the South American Cup.
At least this time there is plenty of time to search carefully and precisely, as the World Cup Qualifiers are only back in March.
