Gerardo Martino resigns as manager of Argentina

Gerardo Martino has stepped down from his role as manager of Argentina after the Albiceleste lost a second consecutive Copa America final under his tenure, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced Tuesday.

The AFA cites difficulties in putting together a roster for Rio 2016 as the primary reason for Martino's resignation.

Martino took over in 2014 after Argentina lost the 2014 FIFA World Cup final to Germany. The side has since conceded the Copa America title to Chile in both 2015 and 2016 on penalty shootouts.

His role at the helm of the South American giant was made much more difficult immediately after the Copa America Centenario, when the country's captain Lionel Messi announced his intention to retire from the national team.

ESPN FC reports that Martino met with AFA vice president Claudio Tapia to discuss problems putting together an 18-man roster for Rio 2016, with rumours that the AFA had postponed the start of Olympic team training after failing to properly organize clearances for the players.

That's just a few of the issues the AFA currently faces.

As Argentina prepared for Chile at MetLife Stadium to conclude the Copa America Centenario, FIFA began its investigation of the AFA, with the Bureau of the FIFA Council appointing a "normalisation committee" that would run the association's daily affairs.

That decision came one day after AFA president Luis Segura was charged with fraudulent administration related to television broadcasting rights.

These problems aren't recent, either. Before the Copa America Centenario kicked off, the AFA threatened to pull Argentina out of the competition, accusing the Argentine government of "clear interference," to which government officials responded with a suspension of the AFA's presidential elections.

Related: Messi brands Argentina Football Association a 'disaster'

As the perceived incompetence and administrative difficulties piled up, the AFA also drew the ire of more radical supporters. On June 27, the organization's headquarters reportedly received a bomb threat.

Only a few weeks ago, Martino began the process of overseeing Argentina's Rio 2016 preparations on the tactical end, presumably drawing up a shortlist of players to make up his Under-23 side.

Those plans will now be set back even further as the AFA looks to appoint another manager.