Fernando Ferrara stated he would have resigned as head coach of Las Leonas if they had not won the World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium.
The coach of the world champion Argentina women’s field hockey team revealed his ultimatum on the program Clank! hosted by Juan Pablo Varsky, ESPN reported. The discussion centered around the dramatic World Cup final against the Netherlands, where Argentina secured victory via shootouts thanks to standout performances from Sofía Cairó and Cristina Cosentino.
- Team Momentum: Las Leonas are training under Fernando Ferrara heading into the upcoming FIH Pro League international competition.
- Future Fixtures: With the squad returning to training under Fernando Ferrara for December’s tournament in Córdoba and February matches in Rosario, market expectations for Argentine dominance remain firmly intact.
“When it was Sofi Cairó’s turn – who had already scored in Paris – I thought: ‘I can’t believe this is going to happen’,” Ferrara told ESPN regarding the decisive shootout moments.
At the 2024 Olympic Games, Cairó had already converted the decisive penalty stroke that secured the bronze medal for Argentina after a semifinal loss to the Netherlands. Following that Olympic podium finish and a previous runner-up result at the 2022 World Cup, social media speculation intensified regarding Ferrara’s future at the helm.
“My agreement with the president of the Confederation was that if I won the World Cup I wanted to continue, and if I didn’t win but finished on the podium I would resign and let him decide based on my work,” Ferrara told ESPN, detailing his pre-tournament pact with the head of the confederation.
Las Leonas are currently training under Ferrara’s direct supervision to prepare for the upcoming international season of the FIH Pro League. Competition kicks off in December in Córdoba, Argentina, before the women’s national squad travels to Rosario in February for the next leg of fixtures.
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