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From CONCACAF.com:
Kenton dismissed as Costa Rican manager after third straight loss
Rodrigo Kenton at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July
Photo by Mexsport9/15/2009 - SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Rodrigo Kenton has been fired as manager of the Costa Rican national team, dismissed less than a week after the Ticos suffered a third straight loss that threatened its chances to qualify for the World Cup.
The Costa Rican federation announced the firing on Monday, but did not specify a replacement or any timetable for installing a new manager.
“We thank Rodrigo and his coaching staff for the effort and dedication offered during this time, but we believe that at this moment the Costa Rican national team needs a change,” federation president Eduardo Li said.
Under Kenton, who replaced Hernan Medford in 2008 after the second round of CONCACAF qualifying, Costa Rica won seven straight World Cup qualifiers, and 10 of 11 matches through June, taking command of the final hexagonal round of CONCACAF qualifying.
However, it lost 4-0 at Honduras, 3-0 at home to Mexico and 1-0 at El Salvador in the past month to fall to fourth in the six-team standings, four points behind group leader the United States. Three teams are guaranteed berths in the World Cup finals next year, while the fourth place team must face off against the fifth-place finish from South America in a two-game playoff for the final slot in the 32-team field in South Africa.
Costa Rica has two remaining qualifiers: October 10 in San Jose against Trinidad, and four days later against the United States in Washington. El Salvador is four points behind Costa Rica for the fourth-place spot in CONCACAF qualifying.
Costa Rican federation general secretary Joseph Ramirez tried to dismiss some of the speculation about Kenton’s replacement.
“There are some names out there, but we are not going to speak about that at the moment. We are going to sit down, look over the names and hopefully make the best choice,” Ramirez told La Prensa Libre.
Kenton dismissed as Costa Rican manager after third straight loss
Rodrigo Kenton at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July
Photo by Mexsport9/15/2009 - SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Rodrigo Kenton has been fired as manager of the Costa Rican national team, dismissed less than a week after the Ticos suffered a third straight loss that threatened its chances to qualify for the World Cup.
The Costa Rican federation announced the firing on Monday, but did not specify a replacement or any timetable for installing a new manager.
“We thank Rodrigo and his coaching staff for the effort and dedication offered during this time, but we believe that at this moment the Costa Rican national team needs a change,” federation president Eduardo Li said.
Under Kenton, who replaced Hernan Medford in 2008 after the second round of CONCACAF qualifying, Costa Rica won seven straight World Cup qualifiers, and 10 of 11 matches through June, taking command of the final hexagonal round of CONCACAF qualifying.
However, it lost 4-0 at Honduras, 3-0 at home to Mexico and 1-0 at El Salvador in the past month to fall to fourth in the six-team standings, four points behind group leader the United States. Three teams are guaranteed berths in the World Cup finals next year, while the fourth place team must face off against the fifth-place finish from South America in a two-game playoff for the final slot in the 32-team field in South Africa.
Costa Rica has two remaining qualifiers: October 10 in San Jose against Trinidad, and four days later against the United States in Washington. El Salvador is four points behind Costa Rica for the fourth-place spot in CONCACAF qualifying.
Costa Rican federation general secretary Joseph Ramirez tried to dismiss some of the speculation about Kenton’s replacement.
“There are some names out there, but we are not going to speak about that at the moment. We are going to sit down, look over the names and hopefully make the best choice,” Ramirez told La Prensa Libre.