Leonel Alvarez will be hired as the head coach of the Colombian national team after serving as the interim head coach since the resignation of Hernan “Bolillo” Gomez, radio station Caracol Radio reported.
According to the vice president of the Colombian Soccer Federation (Colfutbol), Ramon Jesurun, the decision to hire Alvarez is all but finalized.
“I think that yes, that it is very clear, however this has to be notarized by the executive committee that is already cited,” said Jesurun.
Colfutbol is expected to come to a final decision in a meeting on Thursday.
The soccer federation had been communicating with the players to determine who they would prefer to coach the team. While the Colfutbol directors seemed to favor a more experienced coach, the players wanted to keep Alvarez on as the head coach leading into the World Cup playoffs.
Since coming on as the interim head coach, Alvarez has been successful in Colombia’s first two friendlies against Honduras and Jamaica, defeating each team 2-0. Before Gomez resigned over an incident in which the former coach struck a woman in a Bogota bar, Alvarez served as assistant coach.
Before joining Colombia’s national team, Alvarez was head coach of Independiente Medellin that under his leadership became national champion in 2009.
Colombia’s national team will head to Bolivia on October 11 to begin the World Cup playoffs.
