SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Marcelo Bielsa has resigned as Chile’s soccer coach, ending a three-month saga over his future.
Bielsa stepped down at a news conference Friday despite his overwhelming popularity in Chile and attempts by the new Chilean soccer association president Sergio Jadue to persuade him to stay.
The 55-year-old Bielsa led Chile to its most successful World Cup in almost 50 years, but said he would resign if Jorge Segovia was elected president of the Chilean FA.
Segovia’s election was anulled and Jadue took over in his place last month, but Bielsa carried through with his threat to quit.
