Atlético Nacional seems to be clear that its coach for 2023 will not be Pedro Sarmientowho took over just a few weeks ago as interim, after the departure of Hernán Darío Herrera.
The Antioquia club has taken its time to study resumes and choose the best coach option to start a minimum two-year process, as expressed its president Mauricio Navarro.
Although this patience scares the fans and the press in Antioquia, since the first champion of 2022 has not defined a roadmap thinking about the 2023 Copa Libertadores, in which they should aspire to reach the final instances, and not pass another paper like those that Colombian clubs have had in recent editions.
This Monday, the president of Nacional spoke about the coaching profile they are looking for for next season. He did it in F-Teamof ESPN Colombia. There he made it clear that he does not want a coach who uses Nacional as a springboard to jump to another team, which implies that they are looking for an experienced coach, and not a young one who wants to transcend.
“It is not defined if he is a foreigner. We are looking for a technician who knows the Colombian environmentthis is very important; who has been champion, hopefully, in international tournamentsbe it Copa Libertadores or Sudamericana; We want a tour technician and experiencethink about a process of one or two years, “said Navarro.
Regarding the Colombian candidates, the president of Nacional said that “Reinaldo Wheel He will always be a candidate and his doors are open”. For his part, he ruled out the return of Juan Carlos Osorio: “He was there recently, I would think he already had his chance and at this moment we do not consider his name, respecting him a lot for his history and his knowledge.”
Which technicians meet the requirements of Atlético Nacional?
In the same program ESPN They recalled that only three Colombian coaches have won international titles: Luis Fernando Montoya, Francisco Maturana and Reinaldo Rueda.
Gerardo Pelusso, South American champion with Independiente Santa Fe, was also remembered; although the Uruguayan no longer wants to direct and would also not have the DNA of the purslane game.
Other coaches who have been continental champions, and who know or have been close to Colombian soccer, are: Edgardo Bauza (played in Junior and is a double champion of Libertadores -Liga de Quito and San Lorenzo-), Miguel Ángel Russo (champion as Millonarios in 2017 and champion of Libertadores with Boca Juniors), and Gustavo Alfaro (current coach of Ecuador, who he was South American champion with Arsenal de Sarandí and who commented for several years on the Colombia National Team matches).
