Reports from Paraguay on July 5th have indicated that national soccer team manager Gerardo Martino of Argentina is leaving the team and that striker Roque Santa Cruz won’t play in any more World Cups. Both men made the announcements after the team arrived back in Paraguay following their 1-0 loss in the World Cup quarterfinals to Spain.

Martino stated that his four-year contract is up, but told fans he would help the team with the transition to a new manager. He also added that he’s had job offers in Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Argentina.

It’s been rumoured in soccer circles that Martino may be offered the Argentina national team job if current manager Diego Maradona is let go or resigns. Many fans feel the talented Argentine team didn’t play up to its potential as they were beaten 4-0 in the quarterfinals by Germany and Maradona’s job could be in jeopardy.

Reports in South America indicate that Argentina’s football federation feels that Maradona will be facing an uphill battle to get the team into the World Cup again in four years time, which takes place in Brazil in 2014. However, local newspapers have reported that Maradona wanted to resign after the loss to Germany, but the Argentine Football Association talked him out of it. If Maradona is gone, other candidates to take over from him include ex-Boca player Carlos Bianchi as well as Claudio Borghi, and Miguel Angel Russo.

Wherever he ends up, Martino’s stock as a manager has gone up after he led Paraguay to its best ever finish at a World Cup and was quite close to reaching the semi finals in the game against Spain. Meanwhile the injury-prone Santa Cruz, who plays for Manchester City in the English Premier League, stated that South Africa will be his final World Cup because of the toll the sport is taking on his body. However, he did say he might take part in Copa America, the 2011 South American continental championship, which is scheduled to be played in Argentina.

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