Santiago, Chile – Chile has named Argentinean Jorge Sampaoli its new manager, as the country tries to turn around its World Cup qualifying campaign.
Chile parted ways with Claudio Borghi last month with the country sixth in the South American qualifying group, and Sampaoli will be asked to lift the nation into the top four to guarantee a spot in Brazil in 2014.
Fifth place could also advance to the World Cup, but will play the fifth place team from Asia in a two-game playoff to qualify. Despite being sixth, Chile is out of fourth place just on goal differential.
The 52-year-old Sampaoli stepped down as coach of Chilean club Universidad de Chile to take the role with the national team.
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