PANAMA CITY, Aug. 6 -- Veteran Argentine manager America Gallego vowed Tuesday to steer Panama to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar by playing attacking football.
Gallego signed a three-year contract with Panamanian football association last week, replacing interim manager Dely Valdes.
"I have no doubt that we are going to qualify for the World Cup," the 64-year-old said in his first official news conference as Panama's head coach. "I have always been a winning manager and I don't see why I would fail here."
Gallego, who won the World Cup with Argentina as a player in 1978, has not managed since parting ways with Newell's Old Boys in 2017.
This is the first time in his 30-year coaching career that he has taken charge of a national side.
"I have played with Argentina and I have managed many other large teams. I think I'm prepared for this challenge," he said. "As a coach I've always been a winner. My teams have always been very offensive and here we have the talent to play that way."
Gallego's first match in his new job will be a home clash against Bermuda on September 5 in the Concacaf Nations League.?