PANAMA CITY, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Hernan Dario Gomez has quit as Panama coach to take charge of Ecuador for a second time.

Gomez led Panama to the World Cup finals for the first time in their history in Russia. The Central American team struggled in the recently completed tournament, conceding 11 goals and scoring just two in their losses to Belgium, England and Tunisia.

"Now, for me, it is the time for the difficult act of moving my feet from the place where I have put my heart," the Colombian said in a statement published by the Panamanian Football Federation on Tuesday.

"Russia 2018 was the beginning, I fulfilled my promise to take Panama to its first football World Cup and that will remain in my heart, and those of all Panamanians, for life. Panama is on a secure path to continue making history in football."

Gomez also coached Ecuador from 1999 to 2004, guiding them to the 2002 World Cup. He led his native Colombia to the World Cup finals in France four years earlier.