As the knock-out stages progress, we take a look at the bosses who have made the most significant impact during this year’s Copa America.
Some have more experience than others, more silverware, and more honours. Some are more well-known, but ultimately all have achieved to be a step closer to winning the world’s oldest continental football competition on the globe.
Nestor Lorenzo, Colombia
The 58-year-old Argentine did not have much top-flight coaching experience before Los Cafeteros hired him as Reinaldo Rueda’s successor. He only ever had one stint as a club’s manager—with Melgar in the Peruvian league.
True enough, a lot of people questioned the Colombian football federation as why someone who, in terms of managerial experience, can still be considered raw is managing one of South America’s biggest footballing nations.
Fast-forward to today, and Lorenzo’s Colombian side have not lost a match since he was announced back in 2022. That’s a total of 26 matches played (19 wins and seven draws).
Led by the likes of James Rodriguez and Luis Diaz, Colombia topped their group and would have won all three games had it not been for Brazil.
They face debutant quarter-finalists, Panama in the next round, where SBOTOP has Lorenzo’s squad as the clear-cut favourites.
Marcelo Bielsa, Uruguay
There is little introduction needed for a manager as infamous and revered as Bielsa.
The former Leeds United boss was central to bringing Elland Road back to the Premier League in 2020 after 16 years of absence. And now it remains to be seen whether he can bring South America’s most coveted trophy back with La Celeste.
One of the eight Argentine managers in the tournament, Bielsa knows that being given the keys to Uruguay’s squad is a tall order, and he will be under pressure every step of the way.
It is imperative that he deliver, and so far, he has.
Uruguay swept their group, scoring nine goals in the process—the most in the group stages.
Bielsa is also fortunate to work with a stacked Uruguay squad composed of Federico Valverde, Darwin Nunez, Ronald Araujo, and Manuel Ugarte.
With this quality at his disposal, along with his brilliance and experience as a manager, it is likely that La Celeste finishes this tournament as 16-time champions.
Jesse Marsch, Canada
Canada creating history in this year’s Copa America isn’t down on lady luck smiling at them. Alright, maybe for the small part, since they are the only team to advance whilst only scoring one goal throughout the group stages.
But make no mistake, these young players up north have every right to be here, thanks to Jesse Marsch’s guidance.
Upon his hiring, Marsch became the first American to coach Les Rouges. In hindsight, that wouldn’t be the only ‘first’ between Canada and Marsch.
Canada will attempt to have another shot at history as they take on Venezuela in the quarter-finals.
They have already beaten the Copa America 2024 odds by getting out of the group stages; delivering Canada to the semi-finals and giving them a shot at winning the whole thing may just be the 50-year-old’s crowning achievement.
Known to be a players’ coach, Canada’s success is down to Marsch’s having his young team buy into their identity and giving them enough ammo—tactically and mentally—to stand their ground against South American foes.
However, this tournament ends for the Canadians, the future shines brightly on Marsch’s men.
Thomas Christiansen, Panama
It would be remiss not to put Thomas Christiansen on this list. After all, he has done to Panama the same thing as Marsch did to Canada.
And for a small nation with a population of less than five million, making a deep run in a tournament dominated by bigger and wealthier South American countries is a huge achievement to say the least.
One of Johan Cruyff’s disciples in FC Barcelona’s domineering 90s, Christiansen brought the Dutch icon’s philosophies to every team he’s coached so far.
He was most successful in Cyprus, where he led AEK Larnaca in back-to-back runners-up spots and finally won the title with APOEL in 2017.
With Los Canaleros, the Danish coach takes huge pride in revamping Panama’s football from the ground up.
According to him, whilst Panama are athletically sound, it is the sport’s technicalities that they struggle with.
And what better tactic to implement than that of Cruyff’s? Instead of utilising an aggressive counter-attacking style, Christiansen had Panama play a possession style of football.
With outstanding Copa America 2024 results against the USA and Bolivia, Christiansen’s Panama secured a spot in the knock-out round against a loaded Colombian side.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
