It’s official, and with a harsh statement: José Pekerman stopped being coach of the Venezuelan soccer team before the Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cupafter a cycle that barely lasted 15 months.
This was announced by the local federation this Wednesday, which expressed itself in harsh terms: “The Venezuelan Football Federation -FVF- officially announces the termination of the employment relationship with Pascual Lezcano and José Néstor Pekerman.”
It should be noted that Lezcano, mentioned first, is the manager of the former coach of the Argentine national team in the 2006 World Cup in Germany and champion with the Sub 20 in Qatar 1995, Malaysia 1997 and Argentina 2001.
strong statement
Pekerman, 73, took command of Vinotinto in November 2021 with the promise of leading a restructuring of soccer in the only country in South America that has never qualified for the World Cup.
Lezcano, his agent, held the position of manager of national teams.
The brief statement from the FVF comes after hours of press reports on Pekerman’s departure. “For the FVF it is essential that all those who make up our work team share the highest standards of commitment and delivery”, added the text. “We will continue working to ensure that these standards are met, giving our best for our sport, with professionalism, seriousness and rigor.”
Non-compliance with payments and working conditions demanded by Pekerman were the trigger for the break, leading to the coach’s resignation. However, reports in Venezuela indicate that the cause of the break would have been “irregularities” in Lezcano’s management, which would have been detected in an audit.
failed bet
Pekerman led the Venezuelan team in the last four dates of the catastrophic qualifying round for Qatar 2022, in which the team barely added 10 of 54 possible points and closed in the last position. One win and three losses was the balance under the command of the Argentine. The veteran coach had been the bet of the FVF with the endorsement of his successful past: he led his native Argentina in the 2006 World Cup in Germany and Colombia in Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018. Pekerman’s predecessor, the Portuguese Jose Peseiro, resigned La Vinotinto denouncing a salary debt of 14 months, which has already been paid, while the Venezuelan Leo González was interim selector while the FVF closed an agreement with the Argentine.
Venezuela will now have to look for a coach against the clock with a view to the start of the South American qualifier for the 2026 World Cup, which will be organized by the United States, Canada and Mexico. It is expected, in the absence of official confirmation, that the qualifying start in September. La Vinotinto has scheduled friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan on March 24 and 28.
THE NATION, OF ARGENTINA.
OF THE AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS GROUP
(GDA)
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