Costa Rica coach forced out

Alexandre Guimaraes has announced his resignation as coach of the Costa Rican national team.

Guimaraes had a contract until 2010 but chose to step down as his family have received threats following the team’s elimination from the group stage of the World Cup.

“I’m leaving my contract as national team coach,” the Brazilian said at a press conference.

“I have to make it clear that money doesn’t move me and I’m resigning without being paid a financial benefit.

“I can understand that fans and press are sad, but what I cannot accept is aggression and threats,” he added.

“In the last few weeks, criticism has turned into violence.”

Guimaraes, who also led Costa Rica to the 2002 World Cup finals, does not see the team’s early World Cup exit as a failure and denounced a campaign against him from a section of the local media.

“Their criticism seems to belong to fans rather than professionals,” he said.

“It’s clear that we played badly (in the World Cup), but it’s easy to say now that everything is useless.

“I won’t forget all the glorious moments we’ve experienced together and the pain we felt each time we came back home after losing.”