Ricardo Gareca: ‘We are talking with the FEF about the Ecuadorian team. Nice to go. I liked the work that Gustavo Alfaro did’

It was officially known that negotiations are underway between the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) and the Argentine coach Ricardo Gareca so that he assumes the position of coach of the Tricolor, which in the coming months will begin its participation in the South American qualifiers to fight for a place in the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico, as well as in the 2024 Copa América.

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In an interview with the television network ESPNin Buenos Aires, the Tiger Gareca, who gained experience at the national team level in charge of Peru in seven years, revealed details of his representative’s dialogues with the FEF board, which began the search for the new helmsman for La Tri after January 12, in the who announced that Gustavo Alfaro was no longer in office.

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“We are talking. Nice to go. I liked the work that Gustavo Alfaro did and the team did too, but it is in a stage of speaking. I have spoken with the president, and they are at another stage with the lawyer who handles my personal matter. There is a predisposition on both sides,” said the 64-year-old Argentine.

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“I have a pending talk with Gustavo Alfaro, which I haven’t had yet, because of the great respect I have for him and because he spent two years working,” remarked Gareca, who in his playing days was a striker for the Argentine clubs Boca Juniors, Sarmiento from Junín, River Plate and Vélez Sarsfield, in addition to América de Cali (Colombia).

And in view of the consultation of the journalists on the advances in the dialogues with his representative, the Tiger revealed, “It will depend on both parties. They must be talking to other people (by technicians). I transmit what is public knowledge, because the president of the federation himself has declared it.

Gareca with Peru

In command of the Rímac team, Gareca had an outstanding performance in the last four editions of the Copa América (a competition in which Ecuador has caused a series of disappointments since 1993, the year in which it organized it and was fourth).

In Chile 2015, when he had just taken over as coach, he achieved third place; in 2016, when it was held in the United States to commemorate the 100 years of the tournament, he reached the quarterfinals; in 2019 he was vice-champion; and in 2021 he ranked as the fourth best cast in the competition. These last two were played in Brazil, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the qualifier for Russia 2018, he won the ticket for the highest event by beating New Zealand in the playoffs. In the World Cup she was part of group C with France, Denmark and Australia.

He only got a win against the Australian team and lost to the Europeans; That caused their elimination from the maximum FIFA tournament by being located in third place in the group classification. (D)