Tuesday 17 July 2018, 11:51

Debutants' coaches depart

  • Hallgrimsson leaves post as Iceland coach

  • Gomez exits as Panama coach

  • Both led the respective nations to their first-ever World Cup finals

Heimir Hallgrimsson has left his role as head coach of the Iceland national team after spending seven years in the position.

Hallgrimsson led Iceland, alongside Swedish coach Lars Lagerback, to their first UEFA EURO in 2016, where they finished as quarter-finalists, before solely guiding the team as head coach to the nation's first-ever FIFA World Cup™ finals.

Iceland exited Russia 2018 after the group stage, but their debut at the world finals included a 1-1 opening draw with Argentina before suffering defeats to Nigeria and eventual finalists Croatia.

The Football Association of Iceland posted the following announcement:

Gomez leaves Panama post

The first head coach to take Panama to a World Cup finals, Colombian Hernan Dario Gomez, also announced he will be leaving his post.

Writing in a letter published by Panama's Football Federation (FEPAFUT), Gomez said: "Now, for me, it is the time for the difficult act of moving my feet from the place where I have put my heart. Russia 2018 was the beginning, I fulfilled my promise to take Panama to its first football World Cup and that will remain in my heart, and those of all Panamanians, for life. Panama is on a secure path to continue making history in football."

The 62-year-old took charge of Panama in February 2014, with the goal of taking the central American nation to its first-ever World Cup, which he accomplished. Gomez also coached his homeland Colombia at France 1998 and Ecuador at Korea/Japan 2002.

In their debut at the world finals, Panama lost all three of their matches in Group G: 3-0 v Belgium, 6-1 v England and 2-1 v Tunisia.