Simoes installed as new manager of Ticos

September 18, 2009

Rene Simoes, who was dismissed as Jamaica’s manager a year ago, has been selected as coach of Costa Rica, looking to resurrect the Ticos chances of qualifying for the World Cup.

The Costa Rican federation announced the appointment Wednesday night, installing the 56-year-old Brazilian two days after dismissing Rodrigo Kenton following a third straight loss in World Cup qualifying. The latest loss, 1-0 to El Salvador on September 9, dropped Costa Rico to fourth in the final round of World Cup qualifying.

Three teams are guaranteed a berth in the World Cup finals in June in South Africa, while the fourth-placed team earns a two-game playoff against the fifth-placed South American team, currently Argentina, for the last spot in the 32-team field. Costa Rica has 12 points, four behind “hexagonal” leader the United States, one behind third-placed Honduras and four ahead of fifth-placed El Salvador.

“We will, with a lot of courage, do what we can so that Costa Rica has a strong group that can qualify to the World Cup,” Simoes said in a statement released on the Costa Rican federation Web site.

(“Con mucho coraje, haremos lo posible para que Costa Rica tenga un grupo fuerte que pueda clasificar al mundial”, dijo Simoes.)

Simoes was fired as Jamaica’s manager after the Reggae Boyz were virtually eliminated from the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying in September 2008 following two losses in five days.

He coached Jamaica from 1994 to 2000, including to the 1998 World Cup in France, coached Brazil’s women to the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics and also Trinidad & Tobago from 2001 to 2002. He resigned from Brazilian second-division club Portugesa on August 26 after only two weeks on the job, saying armed men threatened his players in the locker room after a loss.

Costa Rica next plays Trinidad & Tobago at home on October 10 before finishing against the United States in Washington four days later.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica

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