BARRIO – Colombia’s soccer federation said on Thursday it had picked Néstor Lorenzo to coach its men’s national team for the next four years. The 56-year-old Argentinian will replace Reinaldo Rueda, who was fired from the job in April after his team failed to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar.
The federation said in a statement that former Colombia captain Amaranto Perea will be Lorenzo’s assistant.
Lorenzo worked as an assistant in three World Cups: 2006 for Argentina and 2014 and 2018 for Colombia.
Colombia finished South American World Cup qualifying in sixth place with 23 points in 18 matches. The top four teams — Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Ecuador — secured direct spots in Qatar. Fifth-place Peru will play a team from the Asian confederation for a final berth in the tournament.