Americo Gallego, who helped Argentina win the 1978 FIFA World Cup™, has been confirmed as the new Panama coach.

The 64-year-old led River Plate, Independiente and Newell’s Old Boys to league titles in Argentina, and Toluca to championship glory in Mexico. It will be Gallego's maiden international head-coaching experience, though he was Daniel Passarella’s assistant as Argentina eliminated England before losing to the Netherlands in the France 1998 quarter-finals.

Panama appeared at their first World Cup at Russia 2018, giving Belgium a tougher challenge than many expected, scoring their maiden goal in the competition against England, and losing narrowly to Tunisia. They lost 1-0 to Jamaica in the recent Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-finals.

Gallego’s first test will come in the form of back-to-back Concacaf Nations League matches against Bermuda in early September.

‘El Tolo’ represented only two clubs during his playing career – Newell’s and River – and won 73 caps for Argentina, also representing them at Spain 1982.