Soccer-Pumpido resigns as coach of Newell's

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Argentina's 1986 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Nery Pumpido resigned as coach of struggling Newell's Old Boys on Monday after they lost their first two games in the Clausura championship.

"Pumpido resigned today," said Newell's spokesman Jose Garcia.

Pumpido, who had been in charge of the Rosario-based club since October 2005, became the first coaching victim of the tournament.

The final straw was Saturday's 2-1 home defeat against River Plate. Although the match was abandoned with four minutes to play because of missile-throwing fans, the result is expected to stand.

Newell's have failed to win in their last 13 games, a run stretching back to last September.

Pumpido enjoyed his finest coaching moment in 2002 when he won the South American Libertadores Cup with Paraguayan club Olimpia.