Marcelo Bielsa became the second well-known coach to turn down a chance to take over at high-profile Buenos Aires side River Plate on Wednesday, two days after the side fired Angel Cappa.
Club vice president Omar Solassi told TyC Sportsthat Bielsa would not make the move. Bielsa is Chile's national team coach and, though he resigned last week after a disagreement with new Chilean association president Jorge Segovia, he told the club he would see out his contract with Chile. The contract expires on Jan. 15, 2011.
Former River coach Americo Gallego turned down the club on Tuesday. River Plate youth coach Juan Jose Lopez is expected to handle the team in Tuesday's superclasico against Boca Juniors.
"We talked and he (Bielsa) appreciated that we thought of him," Solassi said. "But he told us he was under contract with Chile and he could not do anything else but see out the deal."
River is in bad shape. The club is winless in its last seven Apertura matches and it is facing relegation next season. Relegation in Argentina is based on results over three seasons. River is one of only three clubs never to have been relegated. Boca and Independiente are the other two.
