Ecuador selects new coach for national team

Ecuadorian Football Federation (EFF) announced that Gustavo Quinteros has been hired as the new coach for Ecuador's national team Tricolor, local media reported on Friday.

EFF's president Luis Chiriboga confirmed the hiring last night, saying Quinteros is expected to take over in March.

Reinaldo Rueda was fired after Ecuador was eliminated in the first round of last year's World Cup, and replaced on an interim basis by Sixto Vizuete, who had announced his departure on Wednesday.

Quinteros, who has been coaching Ecuadorian football club Emelec, expressed his satisfaction after being selected for his new position.

The new national coach said he will assume the position "as long as possible", saying that "since mid-March I will dedicate to the selection, where we hope to do fruitful work and meet the goals."

The first challenges of the new coach will be the friendly matches with Argentine, Mexico and Panama, which he considers as preparation for the final.

Ecuador will open its America Cup on June 11 when it face host nation Chile at Santiago's National Station, with Mexico and Bolivia also in Group A. Endi