AFA president confirms intention to hire Sampaoli at season’s end

Jorge Sampaoli has been “chosen” to coach Argentina, according to the president of the country’s football association (AFA).

Following the sacking of Edgardo Bauza earlier this month, La Albiceleste has focused all of its recruitment efforts on Sampaoli. The 57-year-old, currently at the helm of Sevilla as it seeks to qualify for the 2016-17 Champions League, promised he wouldn’t speak with the AFA until the end of the season.

Related: Sampaoli acknowledges link, confirms interest for Argentina job

President Claudio Tapia has agreed to remain out of sight for now, but it appears it’s only a matter of time until Argentina gets its man.

“He is the chosen coach,” Tapia told ESPN. “We have to wait for the contractual terms to discuss things with Sevilla.

“We have chosen a coach that has a contract. We want to be respectful and wait because he has a release clause which is (active) once the tournament ends. We will communicate it to the club and we will sit down and negotiate his departure and release clause.”

The Andalusian side already threatened to take legal action if the AFA interfered before the campaign wrapped up.

Fourth-placed Sevilla still has a …read more

Source: http://www.thescore.com/news/1290384