Alejandro Sabella, coach of the Argentina team finalist of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, is dead. The Argentine Football Federation announced on Tuesday that he died of cancer at the age of 66. Hospitalized in Buenos Aires since the end of November for heart problems related to his disease, Sabella contracted a nosocomial disease there.
Coach of the Albiceleste from 2011 to 2014, he ended his coaching career after the 2014 World Cup where Argentina was beaten in overtime by Germany (1-0). Sabella is the second former Argentina manager to disappear in a matter of weeks after the death of legend Diego Maradona, who managed the Albiceleste from late 2008 to summer 2010.
Messi hails “a great person”
With a discreet personality, Sabella had the reputation of a cerebral and picky man. “I am a balanced person and I like balanced teams,” he said to define himself and proclaim his way of seeing and feeling football. “We must always have our feet on the ground. “
Alejandro Sabella reacts to the 2014 World Cup draw
“Alejandro was a great person, besides being an impressive professional who marked me in my career and I learned a lot from him,” Argentina player Lionel Messi wrote on Instagram.
“Goodbye Professor”
“We have lived together some of my best football memories, during the qualifying phase for the World Cup, and during the World Cup,” continued the Argentine star.
After a playing career that saw him wear the colors of River Plate, where he started, and Estudiantes in Argentina, and Sheffield United and Leeds in England, this former international midfielder (8 caps) has had his first coaching experience in 2009, in his former club Estudiantes. In his first year, Sabella led the La Plata club to the Copa Libertadores title, the club’s first since the treble in 1968-1969-1970 and the last to date. La Libertadores is the South American equivalent of the Champions League.
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“Goodbye Professor” greeted the Estudiantes club, where Sabella forced respect. “You are the star that we will proudly wear in our hearts. Thank you for so many teachings and for your heritage. Rest in peace, the Pincha family (Editor’s note: the name of the members of the Estudiantes) will remember you forever, ”added the La Plata club some sixty kilometers south of Buenos Aires.
