Lionel Scaloni renewed as coach of the Argentine national team until 2026, as confirmed by the Argentine Football Association (AFA).
"CONFIRMED: @lioscaloni for a while longer! Let's continue! ????#ScalonetaModoOn #TodosJuntos," the football's governing body also expressed via Twitter.
Since the Albiceleste won the World Cup in Qatar last December, the renewal of the coach has been pending. In addition to the World Cup, he led the team to win the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 Finalissima.
CONFIRMED: There's @lioscaloni for a while longer ????
— ???????? Argentine National Team ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) February 27, 2023
Let's continue! ????????????#ScalonetaModoOn #TodosJuntos pic.twitter.com/4YM6R7ZGW8
On February 7th, when asked by the press about the possible renewal of Scaloni at the helm of the coaching staff of the Albiceleste, the president of the AFA, Claudio Tapia, simply responded, "We are accustomed to giving good news, so wait for good news. We will give it again."
After winning the title on December 18, 2022, both parties expressed on several occasions the idea of maintaining the connection, although an official confirmation was pending.
In January, Scaloni mentioned in an interview that he expected to sit down with Tapia and try to reach an agreement. "I have a good relationship, I appreciate the opportunity, and when I go, we will announce what needs to be announced," he commented.
Born in the small municipality of Pujato (Santa Fe Province) in 1978, Scaloni made his debut as coach of the Argentine national team on September 8, 2018, and was confirmed in the position two months later, amidst criticism for his lack of experience on the bench.
Over time, the coach has become one of the greatest in history of the national team, which has even been nicknamed the 'Scaloneta', winning the Copa America (2021), the 'Finalissima' against Italy (2022), and the World Cup (2022), with a record of 37 wins, 15 draws, and 5 losses.
As a player, he played for Spanish clubs Deportivo de La Coruña, Racing de Santander, and Mallorca, Argentine clubs Newell's Old Boys and Estudiantes de La Plata, Italian clubs Lazio and Atalanta, and English club West Ham.
