Ecuador fires coach Gómez after 1 year

Published

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador national team coach Hernán Darío Gómez has been fired after one year on the job.

The head of Ecuador's soccer body said Wednesday that Gómez is leaving after a deal to end his contract.

The 63-year-old Colombian known as "Bolillo" signed his deal with Ecuador in August 2018.

Gómez was in charge when Ecuador qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 2002, but the results of his second stint as coach were disappointing.

Ecuador did not advance to the knockout stage of the Copa América in June after losses to Uruguay and Chile.

It scored only one point in a draw against Japan's Olympic team.

Ecuador won four of its last friendlies, lost three and drew another three.