Argentine Costas takes charge of Bolivia national team

LA PAZ, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) — Argentine football manager Gustavo Costas has been appointed head coach of Bolivia, as the South American nation begins its quest for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Costas, 59, replaces Cesar Farias who parted ways with the Verde in March after the team’s failure to qualify for this year’s World Cup in Qatar.

“We welcome Gustavo Costas as the new manager of Bolivia’s national team,” the local football federation said in a social media post on Saturday.

Costas had been manager of Chilean top flight club Palestino before agreeing to take on the Bolivia job. His 23-year coaching career has also included spells in charge of Racing Club, Alianza Lima, Al-Nassr and Atlas, among other clubs.

Bolivia have not qualified for the World Cup since the 1994 tournament in the United States.