San Lorenzo sack manager after Nuevo Gasómetro fiasco | OneFootball

The resounding 5-2 defeat against Defensa y Justicia ended up being the final straw for Damián Ayude’s tenure at the helm of San Lorenzo. In a morning filled with tension and sadness at the Ciudad Deportiva, the club’s president, Sergio Costantino, informed the coach of his dismissal, a result of a 2026 season start that fell far short of the expectations of the board and the azulgrana fans.

Chronicle of a Foretold Departure

Wednesday’s day began early, before 9:00 AM, with a private meeting between Costantino and the strategist. There, the president was blunt: the heavy defeat against the “Halcón de Varela” was the last straw. The atmosphere in the locker room after the talk was deeply emotional; Ayude said goodbye to his players with tears in his eyes, closing a chapter marked by inconsistency and a lack of tactical answers in critical moments.

The Numbers That Sealed Ayude’s Fate

San Lorenzo’s record so far this year reflects a results crisis that is hard to sustain for a club of its stature. Out of 10 matches played, the team managed just 3 victories, with the rest split between 3 defeats and 4 draws.

The most worrying aspect for the board was the regression in play: El Ciclón had gone four consecutive games without a win and, prior to the thrashing at the Nuevo Gasómetro, was coming off a streak of three draws that had already set off alarms in Boedo.

The Interim Period and the Immediate Challenge in the Copa Argentina

With no time for regrets, San Lorenzo must quickly turn the page. Alan Capobianco, current Reserve team coach, will take over the first team on an interim basis. His debut will be a trial by fire and with the obligation to advance: this Friday, March 20 at 9:15 PM, El Ciclón will face Deportivo Rincón (a Federal A team) in the round of 32 of the Copa Argentina at the Estadio Centenario in Quilmes.

2026: A Ruthless Year for Coaches

Ayude’s departure is not an isolated case, but rather part of a season of extreme volatility for the coaching benches in Argentina. In just 11 rounds, eight head coaches have already left their posts.

The list includes big names such as Marcelo Gallardo at River and Daniel Oldrá at Instituto. A curious fact is that, of the eight changes, seven were due to dismissals or resignations over poor results; the only exception was Eduardo Domínguez, who left Estudiantes on excellent terms to move to Brazilian football with an offer from Atlético Mineiro.

The Coaches Who Have Left Their Posts in 2026

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.