The double Pan American Games champion comes to the women's team after coaching the men in recent years, and was confirmed to lead the current world champions and Olympic silver medallists, taking over from Carlos Retegui.

As well as Garraffo (pictured top, right), the Argentinean Hockey Confederation announced other coaching staff that will oversee the management of the women's team, including three-time Olympic medallist Maria Magdalena Aicega, who has been appointed as team manager.


The Argentinean hockey star was a member of the Leonas team that won gold at the 2002 World Cup and captained the team to a bronze medal at the Beijing 2008 Games, her farewell tournament – her other two Olympic medals were won at Sydney 2000, where she claimed silver, and Athens 2004, bronze.

Former assistant with the Argentinean men's team Claudio Junquet and Olympian Fernando Ferrara were named as the women's new assistant coaches.

The Leonas are scheduled to resume training next month ahead of a test series against New Zealand in Rosario.

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