Jorge Luis Pinto will not coach again for the Ticos. After leading Costa Rica to its greatest World Cup performance ever, Pinto now will seek out other opportunities in the Americas.
The Colombia-born manager failed to reach a deal with the Costa Rican Football Federation (Fedefut) and will part ways with La Sele. Pinto met with Fedefut President Eduardo Li on Tuesday and Wednesday to see if they could come to an agreement to keep the 61-year-old coach in charge of the Ticos. Li is expected to make the announcement official at a press conference Thursday afternoon.
The move had been expected after Costa Rica’s historic 2014 World Cup performance. Costa Rica was the Cinderella of the tournament, after conquering a group starring three former World Cup champions (Uruguay, Italy and England).
The Ticos then went on to beat Greece on penalty kicks to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in the country’s history. Pinto and La Sele met the Netherlands in the next round, and played the high-powered Dutch team to a scoreless tie for 120 minutes. However, Costa Rica fell in penalties. The elimination with the Dutch will be Pinto’s final match with the Ticos.
Following the World Cup, Pinto had noted he had received offers from South American sides Ecuador, Venezuela and Perú.
Assistant coaches Paulo Wanchope and Luis Marín will replace the Colombian. Costa Rica will take part in the Central American Cup in September.
