Santos Laguna’s coaching staff resigns

Defending Liga MX champions Santos Laguna have announced that the entire coaching staff has resigned, effective immediately. A press conference is scheduled for 5:00 PM local time to discuss the matter. It will be streamed on the club’s Facebook page and live-tweeted on both the English and Spanish-language accounts.

A press release stated there were “a number of differences between the current coaching staff, which ultimately resulted in a conflict with a player.” It was immediately unclear who the player was or what the conflict in question was about.

The release continued “These differences have broken a code of ethics within the club, generating an environment inconducive to a postive performance of the team, and which go against the philosophy and values ​​of Club Santos Laguna.

For this reason, the current coaching staff has decided to resign, recognizing the seriousness of its actions and emissions, and club has accepted its resignation, effective immediately.”

Robert Siboldi and his staff turned around Santos, leading the club to its first Liga MX championship in three years. The club also seemed poised for success this season, winning two and losing only once despite losing key players Djaniny Tavares, Néstor Araujo, and Carlos Izquierdoz during the offseason.

The press release also outlined the succession plan, stating “Salvador Reyes de la Peña, who until today occupied the formal position of Director of Fuerzas Basicas, will assume the role of head coach of the first team. Rafael Alejandro Figueroa Gómez will resume as assistant coach, Nicolás Navarro Castro will resume his role as Institutional Goalkeeper coach and Juan Manuel Rodríguez Muñoz will remain the team’s Physical Trainer.”