CARACAS, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) — Former Venezuela international defender Leonardo Gonzalez will take charge of the Vinotinto on an interim basis for World Cup qualifiers against Argentina, Peru and Paraguay, the Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF) said on Monday.
The announcement came three days after the position was made available by the resignation of Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro.
“It has been decided that the caretaker manager will be Leonardo Gonzalez Antequera, a coach with proven experience in domestic football and a former Vinotinto player,” read a statement on FVF’s official website.
It added: “We are working arduously to appoint a new head coach, which will be somebody with an international profile … [and] an announcement will be made as soon as an agreement is reached.”
Gonzalez, 49, was capped 37 times for Venezuela’s national team from 1993 to 2008. His managerial career has included spells in charge of Venezuelan clubs Deportivo La Guaira and Deportivo Lara.
The Vinotinto will host Argentina on September 2 before away duels with Peru and Paraguay on September 5 and 9.
Venezuela are currently ninth in the 10-team South American zone qualifying standings with one win from six matches. The top four teams will earn an automatic place at next year’s World Cup in Qatar, while the fifth-ranked side will advance to an intercontinental playoff.
