Argentina soccer coach Alfio Basile quits

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Argentina coach Alfio Basile resigned on Thursday, a day after a historic loss to Chile in World Cup qualifying. “Basile spoke with the president of the AFA, Julio Grondona, and irrevocably announced his resignation for personal reasons," Argentine Football Association spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo told reporters. “I’m surprised," Grondona said. Cherquis Bialo said the AFA tried to persuade Basile to change his mind, but “he was very decided, very determined." Potential replacements include Argentina youth coach Sergio Batista, who led Argentina to Olympic gold in Beijing this summer, River Plate’s Diego Simeone and Miguel Angel Russo of San Lorenzo. The team’s next match is a friendly on Nov. 19 against Scotland. Argentina ended a five-match winless streak in World Cup qualifying with a 2-1 victory against Uruguay on Saturday, but the grumbling of fans and media continued that Basile should have been doing more with a talented squad including Lionel Messi, Juan Roman Riquelme and Sergio Aguero. That criticism intensified after a 1-0 defeat on Wednesday in Santiago, Argentina’s first ever loss to Chile in any official competition, and its first loss to Chile in 35 years. That result dropped Argentina into a tie with Chile for third place in South America. The top four will automatically qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Basile, 64, took over Argentina after the 2006 World Cup for his second stint in charge. He also directed the team from 1990 to 1994. In 28 matches under Basile since 2006, Argentina compiled a record of 14 wins, eight ties and six defeats. The “albiceleste," or “blue and white," finished second to Brazil in last year’s Copa America tournament. Argentina’s next coach will have months to settle in before the next World Cup qualifier, against Venezuela in March 2009. – AP