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Argentina: World Cup winner Burruchaga takes over at Estudiantes [Tue Aug 9th, 2005]
Buenos Aires (Reuters) - Former Argentina forward Jorge Burruchaga has taken over as coach of Estudiantes, replacing Reinaldo Merlo.
"I didn't think I'd get a chance to coach a top-level club such as this one so quickly," said Burruchaga, who scored the winning goal for Argentina against West Germany in the 1986 World Cup final.
"It's a leap forward in my professional career and I had no hesitation in accepting."
Burruchaga began his coaching career with unfashionable local side Arsenal in 2002.
He led the modest club out of the second division, turned them into title challengers and qualified them for their first international competition during a three-year spell which ended last month.
He has already earned a reputation for solid, safety-first tactics and is regarded as being in the same mould as former Argentina coach Carlos Bilardo, who played at Estudiantes during the 1960s.
Merlo became the first coaching victim of the Apertura championship, which began on Friday. He resigned without Estudiantes having kicked a ball in anger, as their weekend match away to Instituto was postponed.
The 55-year-old, affectionately known as "Mustard" because of the colour he dyes his hair, had been in charge of the La Plata-based club for one year.
Estudiantes at one stage led the Clausura championship held in the first half of this year, but their challenge faded and they finished fourth.
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