Gerardo Martino: Former Barcelona boss named as Argentina's new head coach

Former Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino has been named as the new head coach of Argentina.

He succeeds Alex Sabella, whose contract ended after he had guided his country to the World Cup final, where they lost to Germany.

Martino, 51, parted company with Barca in May after just one season in charge, shortly after they surrendered their La Liga title to Atletico Madrid.

He led Paraguay to the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup, then managed Newell's Old Boys in his native Argentina before moving to Barcelona after the departure of Tito Vilanova.

He will reunite with Lionel Messi, who had publicly called on Sabella to change tactics after a slow start to Argentina's World Cup campaign.

When appointed at the Nou Camp, Martino declared he felt that Messi have had a role in his getting the role.