Alberto Mancini has stood down as captain of the Argentina Davis Cup team following defeat in the final against Spain at the weekend.
The Spaniards overcame the loss of world No.1 Rafael Nadal to a knee injury to prevail 3-1 in Mar del Plata and secure a third Davis Cup title and a first on foreign soil.
Argentina's loss was made all the more painful as it was its first on home soil since 1998, and Mancini, who took over as coach in 2005, has decided now is the right time to go.
He told Argentinian news station Todo Noticias: "This is a decision I made before the final match this weekend, no matter the result. Unfortunately, we failed to win the title."
"Anyway, I think we've had four wonderful years. There were very good victories and some other bad moments. Four years are enough."
"We've lived a number of situations together and it's time to step aside."
Mancini guided Argentina to the Davis Cup final in 2006 and the semi-finals 12 months earlier but failed to deliver the biggest prize during his tenure.
"This is a passion for me, but I know this is the right time to step aside. I want to," he continued.
"I am quite sad. Everybody is sad because we wanted to win the final."
"Losing the final at home is even more painful. However, sport makes you live difficult moments sometimes. You have to face it and lose with dignity."
Mancini said Spain's win at the Estadio Islas Malvinas could be attributed to increased unity in the camp following Nadal's withdrawal, but added that the groin injury picked up by Juan Martin Del Potro on Friday also greatly influenced the outcome.
He said: "Spain became stronger as a team when Rafa said he was not coming. They proved it."
"When Juan Martin got injured, we lost a lot. There was a big hole without him."
"Juan arrived from the Shanghai Masters very tired. It was a personal decision by him and his coach."
Meanwhile, David Nalbandian has denied reports he was involved in an altercation with team-mate Agustin Calleri after the doubles rubber on Saturday.
Local media reported Nalbandian and Calleri came to blows after losing to Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco, but Nalbandian insists the claims are inaccurate.
"We didn't have any fight in the dressing room," he said. "Neither me nor the team liked what journalists said."
"I am affected by this defeat as a player and a fan because of the passion I view the Davis Cup with. This defeat was very painful to me."
"Agustin has been a friend of mine for a long time. We train together and usually play doubles together in the circuit."
"When I got to the hotel and turned on the television, I watched people saying the Argentinian squad were fighting. That's a shame because it affect the players."
Nalbandian added that he hopes to be involved in the new set-up for Argentina's first-round clash with Holland in 2009.
"I will keep defending the colours of my country for me and for the people who come to support us," he said. "I hope the incoming captain considers me."
"I have been playing the Davis Cup for six years and this is the worst defeat, but I will try not to stop feeling the things I feel when playing on a tennis court in the Davis Cup."