Amarini Villatoro discusses Guatemala National Team and Cartaginés success

Guatemalan coach Amarini Villatoro, currently managing Costa Rica's Cartaginés, has reflected on his professional growth and his past tenure with the Guatemala National Team. Villatoro expressed gratitude for his time with the “Bicolor,” noting that managing over 20 matches helped him mature as an international strategist and learn from his mistakes.

While expressing support for the national team, Villatoro noted that “there are things that lately I am not liking,” suggesting room for improvement in the current setup. He also shared his ambition to manage clubs in Asia or South America in the future.

Following Cartaginés' advancement to the semifinals of the 2026 Concacaf Central American Cup, Villatoro drew parallels between his current squad and his previous successful period with Xelajú. He highlighted the high human quality and resilience of his players under pressure. Additionally, he praised the work of Guatemalan physical trainer Leopoldo Posadas, whom he nicknamed “Mr. Copa Centroamericana” due to Posadas' history of helping teams reach deep stages of the tournament with Antigua GFC, Xelajú, and Cartaginés.