Argentine Apertura Claims Its Latest Coaching Casualty: Diego Cocca
One game doesn't make a season, a victory against your fiercest rivals certainly helps to keep the baying mob away for at least another week.
Unfortunately for embattled coach of Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata, Diego Cocca that victory wasn't forthcoming last night and they went down 2-0 to city rivals Estudiantes; a derby match played out amongst the backdrop of a huge security operation (1000 police) and without visiting Gimnasia fans at Quilmes' stadium.
In an almost routine victory Federico Fernández and idol Seba Verón scored in the first half to send them top and increase the chasm between the two La Plata sides.
Snr.Cocca did the decent thing and 'resigned' shorty after the match with Ginmasia flailing in penultimate position in the current Apertura table.
Champions are defined over a condensed 19-match tournament (Apertura and Clausura) and as a bizarre paradox relegation from the top division is defined over a marathon three season points average—this is where fans of Gimnasia eyes are now firmly fixed; the Promedio relegation standings see them third from bottom above newly promoted Quilmes and Olimpo.
Diego Cocca was faced with a similar situation on taking over earlier in the year—El Lobo survived thanks to a narrow two-leg play off victory over Primera B side Atlético Rafaela. Other highlights have been few and far between during his 29-game spell in charge—a home victory over Estudiantes in February undoubtedly the pick.
Diego Cocca joins Daniel Garnero (Independiente), Héctor Riviora (Huracán) and Antonio Mohamed (Colón) scanning the Appointments section of the broadsheets with César Luis Menotti also quitting his managerial post at constantly in crisis Independiente. One in, one out, keep moving.
