The election of the new Director of National Teams is generating a strong debate within the Executive Committee of the Costa Rican Football Federation (FCRF). So strong that today there is no clarity as to who will leave the position, since there are four finalists for the place.
The Nation knows three of the four names that are on the final list, from which the Executive must choose by vote in the next session. These are Rónald González, a former player of Costa Rica and minor teams; Ángel Catalina, former sports director of Saprissa; Hermes Desio, Argentine and with experience as coordinator of the Argentine minor teams; Finally, there is a Spaniard who worked in the Spanish Football Federation.
The last name that went through the interviews was Desio.
This quartet was formed after two sessions of the Executive did not reach a consensus to advance the appointment of González or Catalina, who lead the appointment intention within the Executive.
In both sessions, more candidates have been requested, this because some members of the Executive consider that González lacks experience in the position, despite the fact that he has extensive knowledge of the Concacaf area and national football; However, he has never held a sports director position.
On the other hand, with Catalina there is no absolute conviction of her legacy at Saprissa, although she managed to win tournaments, the management of the purple minor league left doubts.
The presentation that Rónald González made to the commission in charge of the interviews was greatly appreciated by representatives such as Sergio Hidalgo (vice president); However, other members of the Executive such as Jafet Soto and Juan Carlos Rojas see Catalina as a better option.
While there are differences in the Executive, the external environment seems to have a clear favorite: Rónald González.
Soccer people like Erick Lonis (sports head of Saprissa), Óscar Ramírez (coach of Alajuelense) and Alexandre Guimaraes (coach with two World Cups with the Costa Rica National Team), are clear in stating that the option should be González.
“It is the most appropriate. Let’s go back to the Creole, we are the ones who know the environment here. It has already been experimented with foreigners and it didn’t work. We have to land now,” said Ramírez.
The position of Director of National Teams was in the hands of Claudio Vivas and Ignacio Hierro, in the last two processes. Both the Argentine and the Mexican were in charge of Tico football.
Hierro left his position when Miguel Herrera failed to qualify for the next World Cup. However, prior to his departure, the Mexican interviewed two coaches to be the new coaches of Costa Rica: Fernando Batista (Argentine) and Rafael Dudamel (Venezuelan).
A hot session of the Executive Committee is expected next week, where it will be decided who will fill the vacant position to finally move forward with the appointment of a senior coach. From the outset, everything indicates that Rónald González may have a slight advantage. Ángel Catalina is in a second order; but the Spaniard who completes the quartet could be a surprise at voting time. Everything suggests that the Argentine Desio, today, does not have sufficient support at the leadership level.
