And finally, news of another potential big-name managerial casualty this summer, with under-siege FC Barcelona boss Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino having already informed close friends that he will not be taking up his option of a second year in charge of the La Liga champions.
The Argentinian took over from Tito Vilanova last summer after the previous Barca manager was forced to step down due to health reasons, with the 51-year-old making a sensational start to his reign at Camp Nou after becoming the first coach in the club’s illustrious history not to lose in his first 16 a competitive matches.
However, ever since beating arch-rivals Real Madrid at home in the league back in October, things have slowly started to disintegrate for ‘Tata’, with the Catalan giants having thrown away a seemingly invincible seven-point lead at the top of the Liga standings to now trail Atletico Madrid by a point with only six league games now left in this campaign.
Meanwhile, Martino also became the first Barcelona manager for seven years not to qualify the team for the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League after losing 2-1 on aggregate to Atleti on Wednesday, meaning that the former Paraguay and Newell’s Old Boys boss has decided enough is enough.
And so instead of taking up the option of a second year in Catalonia next season, as is stipulated in the deal that Martino signed last summer, the Argentinian will instead replace Alejandro Sabella as coach of his national side after the end of the World Cup finals.