Amid the Chilean federation’s complaint about the handling of Ecuadorian player Byron Castillo, several names are emerging as potential successors to Martín Lasarte after his departure from La Roja. The first name on the list to take charge of the national team’s technical staff is Gustavo Quinteros, the current Colo Colo manager who has kept the club at the top of the domestic standings and near the knockout phase of the CONMEBOL Libertadores.
Reports from radio station dna indicate that, given ANFP’s budget constraints, the Bolivian-turned-Argentine nationalized coach could be the principal option to guide the process toward the 2026 World Cup while FIFA issues are resolved. This comes as the federation has formally opened a disciplinary inquiry related to archival irregularities at Barcelona de Guayaquil.
One prominent scenario being discussed, centered at Quilín, is that the coach would continue with Colo Colo through late 2022 while serving as the head coach of Chile. This approach echoes a strategy used in 2001 when Jorge Garcés steered Santiago Wanderers while guiding the national team for the 2002 qualifiers. President Pablo Milad acknowledged Quinteros as a highly capable coach, but he emphasized that the list of candidates had not been finalized and would be disclosed by the appropriate officers when ready.
Milad added that if Gustavo Quinteros is appointed, it would reflect the coach’s excellent work and his worthiness for the role. For Colo Colo and the national team, it would be a source of pride to have the club’s coach considered for the job, though the decision rests on others. Juan Martín Lucero, a striker for the national team, commented at a press conference that the possibility would be a source of pride for the club and the fans, noting that the decision is a personal one for the coach.
Another candidate discussed is Eduardo Coudet, who has led clubs like Rosario Central, Racing Club, and Inter de Porto Alegre, and currently manages Celta de Vigo. His contract with Celta presents a significant hurdle for joining the national team, as it binds him to current obligations on the Spanish club side. Coudet has stated publicly that he respects Chile’s football tradition and recognizes the honor of being considered, while noting his existing commitments at Celta and the upcoming league fixtures that need to be completed.
A third option under consideration is Eduardo Berizzo, who recently parted ways with the Paraguayan national team and has been without a club since last year. Berizzo previously spent time in Chile as Marcelo Bielsa’s assistant and later led O’Higgins to its first league title in 2013, a notable emblem of his coaching credentials. The board remains attentive to Berizzo as a potential fit for the role, given his experience and familiarity with Chilean football culture.
Administrators are aiming to secure the new coach in the early days of June, ahead of Chile’s participation in the Kirin Cup, a tournament scheduled to take place in Japan. The national federation’s leadership envisions a smooth transition that aligns with international competition calendars and gives the team a solid preparation window for forthcoming qualifiers and tournaments. The evolving dialogue reflects a broader objective: to stabilize leadership and set a clear strategic path for Chilean football in the near term. (Goal)