La Sele manager Gustavo Matosas leaving for Mexican club

Adiós, Gustavo.

The Costa Rica men’s national team manager, Gustavo Matosas, will leave the position to coach a club team in Mexico, the Costa Rican Soccer Federation confirmed Wednesday.

“Gustavo will enact the clause of termination that is in his contract,” said FEDEFUTBOL president Rodolfo Villalobos. “A great professional opportunity has presented itself to him and he has decided to enact the termination clause.

“We wish him the best.”

The 52-year-old Uruguayan has spent less than a year leading La Sele. He was appointed in October 2018 but didn’t officially take the reins until 2019.

Under Matosas, Costa Rica has won just three of its eight matches, including a surprise loss to Haiti in the 2019 Gold Cup group stage and a quarterfinal-round elimination against Mexico.

Matosas will coach Costa Rica when it faces Uruguay in an international friendly on Friday at the National Stadium before stepping down.

“I have an important opportunity that is close to one of the dreams I have,” Matosas said.

He will officially resign from La Sele on September 10.