After the consecutive defeats of the Colombia national team against Croatia (2–1) and France (3–1), in the preparatory matches for the World Cup that will be held in June in Mexico, the United States and Canada, voices grew that announced the departure of head coach Nestor Lorenzo after the tournament. But the highest authority of the Colombian Football Federation (FCF) has just responded forcefully and makes it clear that Lorenzo will not stop coaching the national team.
Ramon Jesurun, president of the FCF, cleared up doubts, delivered a message of stability and continuity, and undermined versions that announced Lorenzo’s departure.
Regardless of the result he obtains in the World Cup, so far the coach has had a tenure that has even been described as “historic” since he took charge of the team in July 2022: in 44 matches managed, he has achieved 26 wins, 11 draws and has suffered only 7 defeats, for a high performance of over 70%.
But there were those, such as journalist Felipe Sierra, who made public the supposed announcement of what would come: “The Colombian Football Federation does not consider renewing Nestor Lorenzo’s contract after the World Cup, as they recognize that several defeats have been generated by the coach’s errors; they want to look for a better profile for the path of the Colombia national team towards 2030,” it said.
FCF president backs Nestor Lorenzo
These kinds of reports gained strength in the face of silence from the FCF, which was understood by journalists and fans as a positive silence, meaning it gave reason to those announcing Lorenzo’s departure. But that ended in recent hours with Jesurun’s statements.
“Who is questioning Lorenzo’s future? Why? He is the permanent coach of the national team and we are very happy with him,” said the sports official to the media.
But the first of those answers raised new questions about the extension of Lorenzo’s contract after the 2026 World Cup. Jesurun asked not to rush things: “We will look at it later, no need to rush the timing. Take it easy,” he advised.
However, this statement led to new journalistic interpretations, according to which what Jesurun meant is that Lorenzo’s continuity is subject to how he performs in the World Cup. “In case of an early elimination, they could dispense with the Argentine and not renew him,” says, for example, Semana magazine.
For that outlet, less than two months before the championship, “questions about the future of the foreign coach remain the order of the day,” and it will be the coach himself who “will be in charge of clearing them up or increasing them.”
It also recalled that there are always candidates behind the Colombia coaching job, and brought up the name of Juan Carlos Osorio, who “whenever he gets the chance, campaigns to take charge of the Tricolor.” Semana cites statements by Osorio to Red+ Noticias, in which he said: “It seems to me that setting up two games [against Croatia and France] in two and a half, three days, and using the same starting eleven, is an erroneous planning.”
He also said that the players selected were not the ideal ones. “I think it was a great opportunity to present two different teams, to really give an opportunity to those in the second team, to those who are looking for a chance to go to the World Cup. I am referring to Campaz, Machado, Juan Fernando Quintero,” he said. It remains to be seen whether his words will have any echo in Jesurun’s ears.