# Chile national football team coaching search > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/chile-national-football-team-coaching-search > Updated: 2026-10-08T17:30:27.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. The search for a new head coach for the Chilean national football team has moved from public criticism of the selection process to the emergence of specific candidates. Initially, manager Marco Antonio Figueroa criticized the Chilean Football Federation for delays in appointing a permanent coach and questioned the transparency of the process. Figueroa suggested that rumors regarding local candidates might be used to hide intentions to hire foreign coaches, specifically naming Manuel Pellegrini as an ideal choice. He also raised concerns regarding the role of interim manager Nicolás Córdova and broader structural issues in national football planning. Subsequently, Gustavo Quinteros emerged as a prominent candidate. Reports indicated that the Chilean Football Federation requested a meeting with Quinteros, who has prior experience managing clubs like Colo Colo and Universidad Católica. While former coach César Vaccia expressed a preference for a Chilean manager to lead the team toward the 2030 World Cup, he acknowledged Quinteros as a strong candidate with the necessary professional capacity and experience. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-08: Gustavo Quinteros emerges as candidate for Chile national team coach Gustavo Quinteros has emerged as a leading candidate for the Chilean national team head coach position, with the federation reportedly seeking a meeting with the former Colo Colo manager. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gustavo-quinteros-emerges-as-candidate-for-chile-national-team-coach ### 2026-09-15: Marco Antonio Figueroa criticizes Chilean national team coaching selection Former footballer Marco Antonio Figueroa criticized the Chilean national team's coaching selection process, advocating for Manuel Pellegrini and questioning the management of local talent. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/marco-antonio-figueroa-criticizes-chilean-national-team-coaching-selection --- Cite as: Chile national football team coaching search. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/chile-national-football-team-coaching-search