Estudiantes coach Sabella confirms resignation

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP): Alejandro Sabella stepped down as Estudiantes coach on Thursday, a day after tendering his resignation.

"I'm going, I'm going," he said on Thursday as he drove away from Estudiantes' training site after informing club officials of his decision.

Sabella's exit could be a blow for the Argentine club, which was the defending Apertura champion and won the Copa Libertadores title under Sabella only 18 months ago.

Sabella has not spoken publicly about his decision, but he was known to be unhappy with club officials for not making offseason signings for the team, which was led by midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron.

Sabella has said he wanted help at striker and on defense.

Estudiantes has just a just a week to get organized and find a coach. The club plays the first match of the new Clausura on Feb. 11 against Newell's Old Boys.

  

Fans turn against Ronaldo after Corinthians' loss

SAO PAULO (AP): The love affair between Corinthians fans and Ronaldo is apparently coming to an end, and the player's career may be too.

Corinthians was eliminated from the preliminary round of the Copa Libertadores after a 2-0 loss to Deportes Tolima on Wednesday in Colombia, and fans are blaming Ronaldo's poor performances for the disappointment.

The result leaves the Brazilian club with little to play for the rest of the year, and may prompt Ronaldo to halt his career ahead of time.

He had already said he wouldn't play past 2011, and has not dismissed stopping earlier depending on his condition and the team's results.

The visibly out-of-shape Ronaldo said he was "a little stunned" as he left the pitch on Wednesday, as some fans jeered him.