BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Boca Juniors have parted ways with coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto following their loss to Argentine rivals River Plate in the Copa Libertadores final.
"The best thing for Boca is to start the year making a change - search for a new coaching staff and start all over from scratch," club president Daniel Angelici told a news conference on Friday.
The announcement came five days after Boca's 3-1 extra-time loss to River in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final. The result handed River a 5-3 victory on aggregate.
Barros Schelotto, who won three Copa Libertadores as a player, had coached the team since mid-2016 and was contracted until December 31.
"Despite not winning the Copa Libertadores, I leave at peace knowing that I left everything on the pitch," the 45-year-old said. "This is the best decision that we could have taken."
Boca are currently sixth in Argentina's 26-team first division standings. The Superliga Argentina, as the competition is known, is currently in recess and will resume on January 27.
Angelici said Boca had not yet decided who would replace Barros Schelotto.
