A stray dog has become the unofficial assistant manager of a South American football team after refusing to leave the club’s training ground.

Paraguayan side Sporting Club 2 de Mayo have a new addition to the backroom team with manager Carlos Jara Saguier now regularly joined in barking orders from the touchline by Tesapara, who has refused to leave the gaffer’s side.

“I gave him a piece of empanada [pie] and from that day, every time I came to work, he greeted me and does not let go of me,” Saguier told Cronica.

“Tesapara is the guardian of the club, he lives there, when the gates close he is fierce but by day he is friendly... very accessible.”

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Tesapara has been pictured joining the manager on the touchline, during media interviews, keeping players on their toes “with a grunt” and even joining them in some training sessions.

“He takes me on the field, in the offices, in the corridors and he does not want anyone to leave him.

"He is my partner in this adventure with this club.”