Leonardo Astrada was forced out as River Plate coach on Monday, a
day after the club drew 0-0 at last-place Atletico Tucuman to drop
to 17th in the 20-team Argentine league.
Under pressure from club president Daniel Passarella, Astrada
confirmed he had resigned with River on only 13 points from 14
games. River is winless in its last five matches, its most recent
victory coming against Huracan on March 14.
Abel Alves resigned as coach of next-to-last Boca Juniors -
another giant of Argentine football - on Friday.
River Plate has won more league titles than any other club in
the country, but it's now going through one of the worst stretches
in its history and has played 465 minutes without scoring a goal.
"These are decisions the club management makes and one has to
accept them," Astrada said in an interview on radio La Red.
Ramon Diaz and Angel Cappa have been mentioned as possible
replacements. Diaz is a former River coach, the most successful in
the club's history. Two other names being mentioned are Alejandro
Sabella and Ricardo La Volpe.
Astrada took over as coach in October 2009, replacing Nestor
Gorosito. It was Astrada's second stint with the team. He also
coached River in 2004-05.
