Gerardo Martino hired as coach of Argentina, 3 months after leaving Barcelona

FILE - In this May 17, 2014, file photo, FC Barcelona's coach Gerardo Martino, from Argentina, looks on during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain. The Argentine Football Association announced Tuesday August 12, 2014, that is has named Martino as the Argentina National Soccer Team head coach. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File) (The Associated Press)

Gerardo Martino has been hired as coach of Argentina, less than three months after leaving Spanish club Barcelona.

The Argentine Football Association says the 51-year-old Martino will replace Alejandro Sabella, who stepped down after Argentina's loss to Germany in last month's World Cup final.

It will be Martino's second coaching role with a national team, having been in charge of Paraguay from 2006-11.

Martino left Barcelona in May with one year left on his contract after the club failed to win a major trophy for the first time in six years.