Technician Marcelo Gallardo is the architect of taking River Plate to stellar places

Marcelo gallardo, one of the most sought-after technical directors in the world right now, magnified his already immense figure of River Plate idol as architect and driver of the ‘millionaire’ team that this Thursday conquered the Argentine tournament in 2021.

Gallardo, 45, had already given River 12 titles, seven of them at the international level – two Libertadores Cups (2015 and 2018), one South American Cup (2014), three South American Recopas (2015, 2016 and 2019) and the Suruga Bank 2015 – and five national cups. This Thursday he celebrated the thirteenth crown of his cycle.

The consecration came three dates before the end, product of a remarkable campaign that began with some doubts but once he adjusted details, he became unstoppable with a remarkable streak of 16 games without losing.

“In seven years many times we had double competition until the end of the year and that generates a great wear, mental, physical and football. This time we have not suffered that, because we have had toto be out in the Copa Libertadores and that allowed us to focus on the local tournament and follow the evolution of the footballers ”, explained the ‘Doll’.

From former player to successful coach

Former River player in the 1990s and early 2000s, Gallardo returned to the club in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Núñez as coach in June 2014.

Since then he built a cycle that makes him the most successful in front of the red band, for in front of other glories like Ángel Labruna and José María Minella.

In the local context, the Doll celebrated his sixth trophy at the command of River, after obtaining three Argentine Cups (2016, 2017 and 2019) and two Argentine Super Cups in 2017 and 2019, including the satisfaction of having beaten archrival Boca Juniors on several occasions in decisive instances.

Born in Merlo, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Gallardo was linked to River since he was a child and made his debut as a footballer in April 1993, with a career that had three stages (1993-1999, 2003-2006 and 2009-2010), with six league titles to his credit.

The Doll was always a creative flyer created in the style of River’s palate, a club in which he debuted when he was just 17 years old, promoted by the then technical director -and then president- Daniel Passarella.

He also had an outstanding participation in French football as a member of Monaco (1999-2003), where he acted for four years and won a French League, a Super Cup and a League Cup, and also went through the Paris Saint-Germain (2007-2008), with which he celebrated a French League Cup.

Gallardo also played in the DC United de la Major League Soccer (2008-2009) and in the Uruguayan Nacional (2010-2011), where he retired as a player and almost immediately began his remarkable coaching career. There he celebrated the obtaining of the Uruguayan Championship 2011-2012 at the head of the ‘Bolsa’.

Since 2014 at the helm

Two seasons later came the opportunity to lead his precious River, and in June 2014 took the post in place of Ramón Díaz, who left the club with a record of titles (nine) for a DT, but would later be clearly surpassed by the Doll.

The 2021 is the first league title for Gallardo, with which he settled one of his very few outstanding debts, in addition to being the first for River since obtaining the Clausura-2014 Tournament, just weeks before the landing of the now historic DT millionaire.

In these seven years, Gallardo turned River into a signature team, by giving it an aggressive style, with non-negotiable leadership, constant pressure and voracious game, beyond the constant changes between injuries, calls and transferred players, which forced him to reinvent winning teams over and over again.

There resides one of the greatest virtues of the River de Gallardo, in the ability to overcome the casualties of decisive figures and maintain prominence.

His campaign in River catapulted him to be in the sights of several European clubs, and even Uruguay set their sights on him, since he is considered a natural successor after the 15-year stage of the Maestro Oscar Tabárez.

Used to deciding to continue at River at the end of each season, and to fulfill his contract beyond the juicy offers received, Gallardo will define shortly if he continues to lead a club in which he has already left an immense mark and unrepeatable.