Gerardo Martino quits as Argentina boss after yet another heartbreaking Copa America defeat

GERARDO ‘TATA’ MARTINO has resigned as Argentina boss – days after a heartbreaking shootout defeat in the Copa America final.

Skipper Lionel Messi has already retired from international football after Chile won 4-2 on penalties.

It was the third successive tournament Argentina fell at the final hurdle after the 2014 World Cup and last year's Copa America.

There is just one month until the country compete in the Rio Olympic Games.

But Tata reportedly decided to follow his captain out of the door due to a crisis in the AFA.

Earlier today the president of the Argentine Olympic Committee, Gerardo Werthein, said chances that Argentina would make the Olympics at “50 per cent.”

Thousands of fans took to the streets to beg Messi to reverse his decision to quit.

And there are fears veteran players like Javier Masherano, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria could join him.

An AFA statement: "The national team's technical team have decided to hand in their resignation on this day [Tuesday].
"Due to uncertainty over the designation of new authorities in the Argentine Football Association and the serious problems in putting together the team that will represent the country in the Olympic Games, the team has chosen to resign."