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New airs for Costa Rica. Gustavo Alfaro was officially appointed as the new head coach of the 'Ticos', replacing Luis Fernando Suárez, who was dismissed on July 21 for poor results. The Argentine coach will take over the management to face the process of the Qualifiers for the Mexico, Canada, and United States 2026 World Cup. His last experience was in Qatar 2022, coaching the Ecuadorian National Team, a squad with which he had a good performance in the group stage, but did not qualify for the round of 16.
"Being appointed as the head coach of Costa Rica honors me, stimulates me, commits me, and dignifies me. It was almost a year of waiting after the experience with Ecuador in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but it was what we desired along with the coaching staff: to have the privilege and the responsibility of leading the football destiny of this country," said Alfaro in a statement from the FCRF.
In the coming days, the coach will travel to Costa Rica for his official presentation and to join the team's work. His trusted coaching staff includes 3 assistant coaches, 2 fitness coaches, and 1 goalkeeper coach.
"Hopefully, we can all achieve a national team that identifies with the people's sentiment, with the sublime pride that it means to belong and represent the country; that honors its historical past and poses a concrete challenge towards its future," said the new coach.
Regarding his arrival, the President of the Costa Rican Football Federation, Osael Maroto, spoke about Alfaro's hiring: "The arrival of a coach with the professional and human quality of Mr. Gustavo fills us with hope in the midst of the changing processes we are going through. We envision that his knowledge, preparation, and football philosophy will fit perfectly with the players and the Costa Rican fans. We are very happy with his arrival," he said.
What has been Gustavo Alfaro's career?
Alfaro, 61, will seek to qualify Costa Rica for their seventh World Cup in history and fourth consecutive one. The coach comes from coaching Ecuador in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and previously had a professional career in Argentine football leading teams such as Boca Juniors, Huracán, Gimnasia y Esgrima de la Plata, Tigre, Arsenal, Rosario Central, San Lorenzo, among others.
In his achievements, he won the Copa Sudamericana in 2007 and the Argentine Clausura Tournament in 2012 with Arsenal de Sarandí; in addition, he also won the 2020 Argentine Superliga and the 2019 Supercopa with Boca Juniors; among other successes in his successful career.
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