Boca Juniors Head Coach Fernando Gago has been sacked, two days after the Xeneize slumped to a 2-1 defeat in the Superclásico to arch-rivals River Plate.
The decision was announced Tuesday morning by retired Boca star Mauricio Serna, a member of the club’s football board.
Former Independiente and Aldosivi coach Mariano Herrón has been placed in temporary charge.
“We have made a decision, and it is that Fernando Gago has come to the end of the road with the institution. It's a decision we made calmly but it wasn't easy,” said Senna, a former Colombian national team star who had a long career with Boca.
Gago, who began his playing career at Boca, was only appointed last October.
He departs after just six months in charge with a reasonable record of 17 wins, six draws and seven defeats in 30 games.
But Gago's job was already on the line after February's Copa Libertadores second round exit to unfavoured Peruvian side Alianza Lima.
Boca remain top of the Zone A standings in the split Apetura phase of the Liga Profesional de Fútbol, Argentina’s premier division.
But Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to River at the Monumental was the final nail in the coffin.
"I'm leaving feeling angry about the result. We came here to try to win and play. I'll do the analysis later," Gago said after the defeat.
Given Gago's strong ties with Boca, Serna conceded: "It wasn't easy, he's one of our own, but that's what we are here for, to make decisions.”
The departure means Boca will have a new coach when they leave for the United States in June to compete in the Club World Cup.
Former Argentina and Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino, recently released by MLS side Inter Miami (MLS), is one of the frontrunners to succeed Gago, along with Gustavo Quinteros and Cristian 'Kily' González, according to reports.
– TIMES/AFP
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