Luis Zubeldia (pictured) is Santos' third head coach in the last five months. (Photo: Mexsport)
TORREON, Mexico – Luis Zubeldia was officially presented Tuesday as the new head coach of Santos.
The 34-year-old Argentine replaces Pako Ayestaran and comes to the 2015/16 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinalist from Ecuador’s LDU Quito, where he’s been since January 2014.
“The first objective is to give the maximum,” Zubeldia told the press. “We cannot afford to give anything halfway."
After winning the 2015 Liga MX Clausura, Santos slipped to 15th place in the recently completed 2015 Apertura. The Guerreros started the campaign with Pedro Caixinha at the helm, but he resigned after a slow start. Ayestaran was appointed to the post on August 23, helping the team advance to the SCCL knockout rounds.
As a player, Zubeldia represented Argentina at the 1997 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the 1999 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He was a midfielder for Lanus, but was forced to retire at the age of 23 due to a knee injury.
His managerial career has also taken him to Lanus, Barcelona SC (Ecuador) and Racing Club.
