BUENOS AIRES, Aug 28 - River Plate coach Leonardo
Astrada resigned in the dressing-room on Sunday after his side
were thumped 4-1 by unfashionable Banfield.
"Astrada has decided to step aside," River president Jose
Maria Aguilar said immediately after the team had slipped out
of the stadium without talking to the waiting media.
"We tried to dissuade him but his decision was final."
Astrada's walked away from one of the country's biggest
club only four matches into the Argentine Apertura championship
and after his team's first defeat of the tournament.
But he had been under pressure after River were knocked out
of the South American Libertadores Cup at the semi-final stage
by Brazil's Sao Paulo in June, losing both home and away.
River also performed poorly in the Clausura championship in
the first half of this year and lost the derby against bitter
rivals Boca Juniors.
Capped 33 times by Argentina, Astrada had no previous
coaching experience when he took over as coach in January last
year, six months after ending his playing career at the club
where he spent most of his career.
Although River won the 2003/4 Clausura championship six
months later, the title was regarded as little more than a
consolation after they lost to arch-rivals Boca in the
semi-finals of that year's Libertadores Cup.
It was the only title they won under Astrada.