Boca Juniors boss Schelotto resigns amid Atlanta United rumors

Less than a week after their heartbreaking defeat to archrivals River Plate in the Copa Libertadores final, Boca Juniors have lost their manager.

As expected, Guillermo Barros Schelotto left his post as head coach of the Buenos Aires club Friday. The move comes as rumors of an imminent appointment at Atlanta United continue to swirl.

Schelotto was linked with the MLS franchise before it was even announced that Tata Martino would be leaving the Georgian outfit during the offseason. Atlanta, of course, will enter 2019 as the defending MLS Cup champion.

The appointment of the 45-year-old would make a lot of sense. Schelotto is an Argentinian compatriot of Martino and has worked for almost his entire playing and managerial careers in South America, a region which is the cornerstone of Atlanta's recruitment policy.

The former attacking midfielder has past experience of MLS, having spent three years with the Columbus Crew in the twilight of his playing career, where he won the league's MVP award in 2008.

He bows out at Boca having won back-to-back Primera Division titles and looking for a new project after the bitter disappointment of the Copa Libertadores defeat.