The defeat took a back seat for Unión La Calera after what happened with Martín Cicotello. Once the match against O’Higgins was over, the Argentine coach suffered an arrhythmia and had to be assisted at the stadium before being transported by ambulance to a hospital in Rancagua.
The incident occurred at the Estadio El Teniente following the 2-1 loss suffered by the cement team, a result that left them in last place in the National Tournament. Cicotello had participated normally in the post-match press conference, but upon returning to the locker room he began to feel unwell and received initial care there.
The situation caused concern among the team members and the rest of the coaching staff. However, as hours passed, reassuring news arrived from the institution, confirming that the coach was stabilized and did not need to remain hospitalized. "The club wishes to announce that, following the match played against O’Higgins at Estadio El Teniente, our coach Martín Cicotello suffered an arrhythmia", Unión La Calera reported through a statement.
The institution also provided reassurance regarding his recovery and added: "After being transported and subsequently stabilized at the nearest hospital, Martín is in good condition and is on his way home with the rest of the team".
Cicotello's Career
The 45-year-old Argentine coach is currently in his second term at the helm of Unión La Calera, a team that recently confirmed his continuity despite its complicated situation in the Chilean championship (last in the relegation zone with only 14 points in 22 matches). His first opportunity as a coach of a professional team came at that very institution in 2023. He then went on to Independiente Rivadavia and Montevideo City Torque, before returning to the Chilean team in September 2025.
However, his journey in football began much earlier and from a different place. Trained in the youth ranks of Unión, he developed much of his career as a footballer in the Italian lower divisions, where he played until his retirement in 2012.
Cicotello worked in teams from Argentina, Chile, and Peru
He then began to work in various coaching staffs and worked at clubs in Argentina, Peru, and Chile. He was an assistant and video analyst, in addition to coaching youth divisions, with stints at institutions such as Universidad de Chile, Newell’s, Huracán, and Defensa y Justicia, among others.
