Defeated By Argentina, A Few Hours Later Ecuador Immediately Fired The Coach

Felix Sanchez, was sacked by Ecuador after losing to Argentina (X/@ecuadorheroes).

JAKARTA - The Ecuadorian national team did not take long to make firm decisions. A few hours after the team lost to Argentina in the 2024 Copa America quarter-finals, Felix Sanchez was immediately fired.

On Friday, July 5, 2024, Sanchez's fate immediately changed drastically. The certainty that he is no longer sitting on the Ecuadorian coaching chair was revealed by the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF).

In an official statement, FEF said Sanchez's contract was immediately removed following defeat to Argentina.

"FEF informed that today's deletion of Felix Sanchez's contract has been approved. We would like to thank Sanchez and the coaching team for their hard work and professionalism," FEF wrote, quoted Friday, July 5, 2024.

The Spaniard joined Ecuador in March 2023 with a contract duration that actually lasts for the next four years or 2027.

Prior to dealing with Ecuador, Sanchez was a coach who was considered quite capable because he brought Qatar to win the 2019 Asian Cup. He is also the coach who handled Qatar at the 2022 World Cup.

Ecuador's achievement with Sanchez is not too bad. They successfully stepped into the knockout stages of the 2024 Copa America. This achievement is the third time Ecuador has qualified for the Copa America quarter-finals in the last four editions.

However, the unsatisfactory result in the quarter-finals actually changed Sanchez's fate. Ecuador was defeated by Argentina on penalties 2-4 after a 1-1 draw for 90 minutes.