Wednesday 01 August 2018, 18:29

Experienced Gomez returns as Ecuador coach

  • Hernan Dario Gomez takes charge of Ecuador for second stint

  • He led Ecuador to the country's first FIFA World Cup in 2002

  • "I'm very happy to come back home"

Colombian Hernan Dario Gomez was officially presented as the new coach of Ecuador on Wednesday.

Gomez takes charge of La Tricolor following his time with Panama, where he led the nation to their first ever FIFA World Cup™.

This will be Gomez's second stint at the helm for Ecuador. During his first spell he took the team to their first World Cup finals at Korea/Japan 2002.

"I'm very happy to come back home," Gomez said during his official presentation at the Ecuador Football Federation in Guayaquil. "I have prestige, thanks to Ecuador, all over the world."

The 62-year-old will attempt to be involved in a World Cup for a sixth time. He was assistant coach for Francisco Maturana with Colombia during their campaigns at Italy 1990 and USA 1994. He was then head coach for Colombia at France 1998, Ecuador in 2002 and Panama during Russia 2018.

"United we are stronger," he said. "You achieve things when there is unity, love and a sense of belonging and when you have good people join."