Following their penalty shootout loss to Argentina on Thursday night, a match that ended in a 1-1 draw but saw Ecuador fall 4-2 from the spot, the Ecuadorian Football Federation announced that they are parting ways with manager Felix Sanchez.
Sanchez, who was appointed on a four-year contract in March 2023, managed to secure 10 wins out of 19 matches during his tenure.
The decision to sack Sanchez likely came as a surprise to the former manager. Speaking to reporters postgame, Sanchez reflected on the team’s progress and expressed optimism for the future.
“We managed to advance from the group stage to the knockouts. I have congratulated the players even if we weren’t able to progress.”
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I think they deserve the credit. That is my opinion, but I think that in the next edition of this tournament, we’ll get here with a more experienced team. These are very young players. Maybe the results were unfair, but I know that we have to believe in this group of players.”
Despite his hopeful outlook, just hours after the defeat, the Ecuadorian Football Federation announced his departure. “We thank Felix and his coaching staff for their work and professionalism, and wish him success in his future endeavors,” the federation said in a statement.
Currently sitting fifth in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying, Ecuador will return to action in September as they continue their quest for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With Sanchez’s departure, the team will also be on the lookout for a new manager to lead them on this journey.