Marcelo Espina takes over as sporting director of Colo Colo | OneFootball

Marcelo Espina was announced as Colo Colo’s new sporting director in June.

However, Espina only just arrived on Wednesday to take on his new role.

The former Argentina footballer assumed the role after he fulfilled his duties as a commentator at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

“For me it’s a new task, that’s clear. I take it with a lot of responsibility,” Espina said in his introductory press conference, “It is a very important position at a very important club. I have many expectations, and I must think about our long-term goals in a calm and logistical matter.”

The ex-captain of Colo Colo has also set his own personal goals with the club. “I would like not only to promote youth players, but youth coaches as well. We need to forge them into leaders so that they can fill in with the first team. I want us to be a club that can have our own coaching system.”

Colo Colo are currently fifth in the Chilean Primera División with 13 matches to play, six points behind leaders Universidad Católica and Universidad de Concepción.

They face Corinthians of Brazil in the Copa Libertadores round-of-16, with the first leg set to commence on 8 August.