Venezuela hires Argentine Pekerman to coach national team
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — José Pekerman, who has coached teams in three World Cups, was hired Tuesday to take over the Venezuelan national team.
The 72-year-old Argentine signed a five-year contract, the country’s soccer federation said, with the goal of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Venezuela is the only team from the South American confederation that has never reached the World Cup.
It is out of the running for next year's tournament in Qatar with just 7 points and four qualifiers to play.
Pekerman guided Colombia to the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup and to the round of 16 in the 2018 tournament. He coached Argentina in the 2006 World Cup, losing on penalties to Germany in the quarterfinals.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
-
J.J. McCarthy finds his ideal home and Joel Klatt's top takeaways from NFL Draft
LeBron James addresses retirement rumors: 'I do not know yet'
2024 NFL Power Rankings: A post-draft look at where every team stands
-
Best early NFL bets to make now: Bears, Colts to win their divisions
Former UConn champs to compete for $1 million in The Basketball Tournament
Can Jim Harbaugh turn the Chargers into winners? He’s done it everywhere else
-
MLB Rookie Power Rankings: Who takes top spot one month in?
2024 Kentucky Derby: Post time, TV schedule, horses, date, purse
2024 NFL Schedule Release: Date, when does the season start?
-
J.J. McCarthy finds his ideal home and Joel Klatt's top takeaways from NFL Draft
LeBron James addresses retirement rumors: 'I do not know yet'
2024 NFL Power Rankings: A post-draft look at where every team stands
-
Best early NFL bets to make now: Bears, Colts to win their divisions
Former UConn champs to compete for $1 million in The Basketball Tournament
Can Jim Harbaugh turn the Chargers into winners? He’s done it everywhere else
-
MLB Rookie Power Rankings: Who takes top spot one month in?
2024 Kentucky Derby: Post time, TV schedule, horses, date, purse
2024 NFL Schedule Release: Date, when does the season start?