Pumas unveil their new boss
NEWS: The worst-kept secret in Argentina has been confirmed, when they unveiled the new coach of the national team.
Former Los Pumas hooker Mario Ledesma was named to succeed Daniel Hourcade, who resigned last month after a string of losses – including a June series in which it appeared the players were trying very hard.
Ledesma, who took charge of the Jaguares this season, said he was “proud” to take over the reigns.
“This is a huge challenge, but one I will embrace,”he said.
Hourcade announced his resignation on June 16, after Los Pumas lost 12-30 to Wales in Sante Fe – losing the series nil-two.
Argentina have been in freefall since they reached the semifinals of the 2015 World Cup, with Hourcade leading his side to just three victories in their last 23 matches, which were against Georgia, Italy and Japan.
When Hourcade made the decision to walk away he admitted: “The message is no longer getting through and we feel that clearly this is a completed cycle. We talked previously with the UAR and agreed that the [June] window was decisive.
“We did everything possible and there are not responses from the team. The responsibility is entirely mine.”
The grapevine suggested the players were deliberately underperforming to get the unpopular Hourcade out of the way.
