Argentina Coach Jorge Sampaoli is heading for the exit door following his team's World Cup elimination by France, reports said on Monday.
Rumoured to be at odds with his players, including captain Lionel Messi, Sampaoli is expected to be sacked after just a year in charge, even though there are another four years to run on his contract.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. “More alone than a lone madmen,” screamed sports newspaper Ole on its front page. “The exit is that way.”
The problem lies, though, in Sampaoli's reluctance to resign and a contract clause that would oblige the Argentine Football Association (AFA) to pay the 58-year-old around $15 million (13 million euros) to get rid of him, reports said.
“Management want Sampaoli to go, but the coach is resisting,” added Ole, which organised a poll among 100,000 Argentines and found 82 percent wanted rid of the former Chile and Sevilla boss.
Sampaoli's record since he was hired in June 2017 makes grim reading given Argentina's usually high standards: seven wins, four draws and four defeats in 15 matches.
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