Scaloni set to stay on as Argentina head coach

Lionel Scaloni has no intention of stepping down as head coach after guiding Argentina to World Cup glory, says Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia.

Argentina defeated France 4-2 on penalties in a thrilling Qatar 2022 final that finished 3-3 after extra time to add to the Copa America crown won last year.

With his team’s latest success, Scaloni became just the third manager in history to win both competitions, after former Brazil bosses Mario Zagallo and Carlos Alberto Parreira.

The 44-year-old is due to be out of contract later this week and has been tipped to take on a high-profile position at club level, but Tapia does not see that happening.

“I have no doubt he will continue to be the head coach of the Argentina team,” AFA chief Tapia told reporters.

“We are both men of our word. We shook hands and we said yes to each other. He is currently travelling but as soon as he comes back we are going to finalise it.”

#Qatar2022 Leo Kun @Argentina pic.twitter.com/7rbjvyRfTJ

— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) December 19, 2022

Scaloni has been in charge since July 2018, initially on a caretaker basis, and also won the inaugural Finalissima earlier this year with victory over European champions Italy.

However, the decision to appoint Scaloni as Jorge Sampaoli’s successor after defeat to France in the last 16 of Russia 2018 was not a unanimous one.

“Ninety-nine per cent of people thought we were wrong or even crazy,” Tapia said. “But this team brought happiness to the people with the three titles they won.”