Daniel Passarella was a controversial choice to coach the Uruguayan national football squad.
As the former captain and coach of Argentina, he was a living symbol of Uruguay's archrivals.
But, having failed to qualify for the previous two World Cups, the prospect of missing a third was so terrifying that Uruguayan football swallowed its pride.
Though modern times may have been barren, the country considers itself to have one of the most successful international sides in football history.
Winners of the first two World Cups that they entered, in 1930 and 1950, Uruguay also won gold at the Olympic football tournaments of 1924 and 1928.
Uruguayans consider that those triumphs put them on equal footing with four-time world champions, Brazil.
And though Passarella was unable to invoke an instant revival of Uruguay's golden era, he has left them in reasonable shape to qualify for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea.
In his two years as the helm, he won over many of those who had criticised his appointment, and there is sadness at his departure.
The presence of a big name coach seemed to ease the pressure on the players, who knew that Passarella would be in the firing line if performances were poor.
He was bold in his selections.
Many young players were picked, and there was an attacking balance to the team.
While at times Uruguay were forced into a backs-to-the-wall approach, Passarella was reluctant to pick purely defensive midfielders.
Instead he put his faith in ball-players and asked them to work hard for the team.
They responded well.
With 10 rounds gone in South America's marathon World Cup qualification campaign, no team in the continent has conceded fewer goals
Meanwhile, Passarella's behaviour on the touchline was visibly committed.
He paced up and down, nervously chain-smoking, and every time his team scored his celebrations were as vigorous as those on the terraces of the Centenário stadium.
He was unable to end Uruguay's long run without an away win in World Cup qualifying, which now stretches to 12 games.
But he leaves the team well in contention for a World Cup place.
Four teams qualify automatically from South America, with the fifth playing off against the champions of Oceania.
Uruguay are currently fifth.
Indeed, it was events off the pitch, not on it, that led to Passarella's resignation.
All through the current campaign Passarella has complained about the lack of time available to train with his players.
The big two clubs of Uruguyan football are Peñarol and Nacional.
Passarella was continually in conflict with the latter, who were reluctant to release players for international duty.
After what he claimed was the sixth bust-up between club and country, Passarella decided that the time had come to go.
According to the Uruguayan press, he was only prevented from resigning earlier by the personal intervention of the country¿s President Jorge Battle.
This time, though, as Passarella said in his resignation statement, there would be no turning back.
His departure means youth team coach Victor Pua has been pressed into emergency service.
Pua is the man behind the development of many of the younger players who so impresssed Passarella.
He was also in charge when, with a virtual under-23 squad, Uruguay reached the final of the Copa America in 1999.
He would be a popular choice to take over on a permanent basis and has a good chance to stake his claim next week when Uruguay come to Europe.
The team are to play friendlies against Slovenia and Juventus in preparation for the crucial World Cup qualifier at home to Paraguay at the end of March.