Matias Almeyda has been sacked by MLS outfit San Jose Earthquakes six months after being linked with the Newcastle United hotseat, as reported by The Athletic.
The Magpies searched far and wide for a new head coach following the drawn-out departure of Steve Bruce. They looked at proven Premier League operators, forward-thinking purists, 60-something veterans and even those with European trophies on their CV.
But Almeyda was certainly the most left-field of Newcastle’s many managerial targets.
Linked with Tuttomercatoweb, the 48-year-old former Argentina international had never before taken charge of a team this side of the Atlantic.
Almeyda’s record in South America, however, spoke for itself.
The former Inter Milan star – who once scored a stunning Champions League goal at St James’ Park – dragged River Plate off the canvas in his first coaching role, guiding one of the continent’s biggest clubs to promotion from the Argentine second tier in 2013.
He then repeated the trick with Banfield before claiming five titles at Mexican outfit Guadalajara, ending their nine-year trophy drought and triumphing in the 2018 Concacaf Champions League, qualifying for the Club World Cup as a result.
Suddenly, you can see Almeyda earned himself a spot on Newcastle’s shortlist.
But it’s unlikely the 1999 Serie A Footballer of the Year will be attracting further interest from Premier League clubs. Not unless he can rebuild a reputation that has been shattered into a million tiny pieces at San Jose Earthquakes.
A lucky escape?
Almeyda departs with San Jose bottom of the table, picking up three points from seven matches. The results, however, are only the tip of an iceberg big enough to sink the Titanic two times over.
“(Almeyda) ran roughshod over the club in recent weeks,” reads The Athletic. “Embarrassing himself and the organisation with a series of lamentable decisions that seem to indicate a desire to be fired.
“He repeatedly skipped league-mandated news conferences. His on-field tactics were a horror show. His line-up choices verged on ridiculous. He’s even gotten into confrontations with fans in at least two different home matches.”
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According to reports, Almeyda’s next calling could be in Greece, with AEK Athens in pursuit of the headstrong, principled tactician.
As for Newcastle, safe from relegation and looking to the future with a renewed sense of optimism, handing the reigns to Eddie Howe is a decision that looks better and better with almost ever week that goes by.
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