Alejandro Sabella: Ex-Argentina coach dies at 66 after long battle with illness

- Alejandro Sabella guided Argentina to the World Cup final in 2014 which Germany won

- The former Sheffield United striker has passed away at the age of 66 due to illness

- It becomes a double tragedy for Argentina as Sabela’s death is coming barely two weeks after Maradona died

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Former Argentina national football team coach Alejandro Sabella has died at the age of 66 following a long battle with a disease.

Sabella who guided La Albaceleste to the FIFA World Cup final in 2014 had reportedly been in the hospital for about two weeks before he passed away.

It was gathered that the former tactician was rushed to the hospital on November 26, just a day after football icon, Diego Maradona, passed away at his house.

Reports on GOAL claim that the former manager had initially responded to treatment, but his condition was said to have worsened due to an infection.

Sabella was admitted in the intensive care for close to two weeks at a private facility in Belgrano, Buenos Aires.

And on December 8, it got worse that he was placed on a respirator as he was unable to breathe on his own before he passed on at about midday.

The Argentine top flight's Twitter account confirmed the sad news as it paid respect to the late coach.

Read the tweet below:

"The AFA's Liga Profesional de Futbol family deeply regrets the passing of Alejandro Sabella, and is with all his loved ones at this sad time."

"Rest in peace, Professor."

The stylish attacking midfielder began with River Plate, where he made over 100 professional appearances in the 1970s and lifted three league titles.

He was among the very first South Americans to play in English football having joined Sheffield United in 1978 after that year’s World Cup.

Meanwhile, three-time FIFA World Cup winner Pele says late Diego Maradona was incomparable in an emotional message he wrote in honour of the Argentine seven days after his demise.

The 1986 World Cup winner was confirmed dead last week at the age of 60 after a suspected heart condition in his home country.

And this came a few days after returning from the hospital where he underwent brain surgery to remove a blood clot.

Both legends were a subject of comparison owing to their achievements for their countries and clubs respectively.

However, Legit.ng earlier reported that a 23-year-old Mara Gomez becomes the first transgender woman to play the game of football in South American country Argentina.

The Lanus football club striker received the approval to play and was in action in her side’s 7-1 loss to Villa San Carlos in the Primera A.

Gomez thanked the AFA which took the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on inclusion to allow her to play professionally.

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Source: Legit.ng