Anibal Ruiz (center) walks off the field after Municipal's loss at Pachuca in the CONCACAF Champions League on September 24, 2014. (Photo: Mexsport)
GUATEAMALA CITY, Guatemala – Municipal announced Thursday that it has accepted the resignation of head coach Anibal Ruiz.
The decision came only a day after Mexico’s Pachuca posted a 4-1 win over the Guatemalan club, eliminating it from the CONCACAF Champions League prior to the tournament’s group stage for the fifth time in as many attempts.
Ruiz was hired last December and led Municipal to the 2014 Guatemalan Clausura final, where it fell to long-time rival Comunicaciones. Almost immediately following the loss to Pachuca, he raised the possibility of resigning with club President Gerardo Villa and treasurer Jose Maria Aladana. Upon returning to Guatemala, the 71-year-old met with Vice President Ernesto Rodriguez to relinquish his position.
For the third time in his career, Martín Plachot -- a coach with the club’s second-division team -- will take the reins on an interim basis.
Municipal has won 29 Guatemalan titles, but none since the 2011 Apertura. It currently sits sixth in the 2014 Apertura with 11 points from six games.
