Marcelo Gallardo is one of the most successful football managers in South America and has achieved tremendous success with River Plate since taking charge in 2014. With two Copa Libertadores titles, five league wins, and two Supercopa Argentina titles, Gallardo’s managerial career has been nothing short of remarkable. But before his illustrious career began at River Plate, Gallardo had a storied playing career that spanned almost 20 years across three countries. In this blog post, we will take a look at the life and career of Marcelo Gallardo, from his childhood to his current position as manager of River Plate.
Club career
Marcelo Gallardo began his professional career with River Plate in 1996. He made his debut in a 2-0 defeat to Racing Club on 14 April 1996. He went on to make 31 appearances for the club, scoring four goals, as River Plate won the Apertura championship that year.
The following season, Gallardo became a regular starter for River Plate and was a key player in the team that won the 1997 Clausura championship. He scored eight goals in 33 appearances as River Plate finished the season as champions of both the Apertura and Clausura tournaments.
In 1998, Gallardo was part of the River Plate team that won the Copa Libertadores, South America’s premier club competition. He scored two goals in 11 appearances as River Plate beat Brazilian side Vasco da Gama 3-1 on aggregate in the final.
After winning the Copa Libertadores, Gallardo helped River Plate win the Intercontinental Cup, defeating Scottish side Rangers 3-0 in the final. He scored one goal in three appearances as River Plate became world champions.
Following his successful spell with River Plate, Gallardo moved to Europe to join Monaco in 1999. He made his debut for Monaco in a 1-0 victory over Nancy on 21 August 1999. He went on to make 27 appearances for Monaco, scoring four goals, as they finished second in Ligue 1 behind Paris Saint-Germain.
International career
Marcelo Gallardo began his international career with the Argentine national team in 1996. He represented Argentina at the 1996 Summer Olympics, the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup, and the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He also played for Argentina at the 2004 Copa América, where he won a bronze medal.
After retiring from the national team in 2006, Gallardo became a member of the coaching staff of the Argentine national team. He was an assistant coach for Argentina at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Managing career
Marcelo Gallardo is one of the most successful managers in Uruguay. He has managed to take charge of his career and make a name for himself in the country.
Marcelo Gallardo was born on January 7, 1974, in Montevideo, Uruguay. His father was a professional footballer who played for the national team of Uruguay. Gallardo began his own football career at an early age and played for various clubs in Uruguay. He eventually made his way to Argentina where he played for River Plate.
Gallardo retired from playing football in 2014 and took up coaching soon after. He became the manager of River Plate’s youth team. In 2017, he was appointed as the club’s first-team manager. Gallardo has since led River Plate to two Copa Libertadores titles and one Copa Sudamericana title.
Under Gallardo’s management, River Plate has become one of the most successful clubs in South America. He has also been hailed as one of the best managers in Uruguay’s history.
Playing style
It is impossible to talk about Marcelo Gallardo without mentioning his superb technique. The Argentine maestro is widely considered one of the best players of his generation, and it is easy to see why. Gallardo is a rare breed of player who can both create and score goals; he is comfortable in any position on the pitch and has an almost telepathic understanding with his teammates.
In addition to his technical ability, Gallardo also possesses great physicality and stamina. He is not afraid to put in a hard tackle or chase down a loose ball, and his work rate is second to none. Gallardo is the complete package, and it is no wonder that he is held in such high regard by those who have had the pleasure of watching him play.
Personal life
Marcelo Gallardo was born on November 25, 1976, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He began his career with Argentine club River Plate in 1994. He spent 12 years with the club, winning 14 domestic and international titles. He is the most decorated player in River Plate’s history.
Gallardo retired from playing professional soccer in 2016 after 22 years. He now serves as the manager of River Plate. In 2017, he led the team to their second consecutive Copa Libertadores title.
Gallardo is married to Micaela Podesta and they have three children together.
Career statistics
In his club career, Marcelo Gallardo has made a total of 505 appearances, scoring 114 goals. He has played for River Plate, Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain and FC Porto.
At international level, Gallardo has represented Argentina on 41 occasions, scoring five goals. He was a member of the squad that won the Copa America in 2007 and reached the final of the FIFA World Cup in 2014.
Managerial statistics
Marcelo Gallardo is one of the most successful managers in Argentine football history. He has won 13 trophies with River Plate, including the Copa Libertadores, and is the club’s all-time leading scorer.
Gallardo began his managerial career with River Plate’s youth team in 2009, before being promoted to the senior team in 2011. He led River to victory in the 2012 Copa Sudamericana, their first continental trophy in 19 years. The following year, Gallardo guided River to the 2013 Copa Libertadores title, making him the first Argentine manager to win the tournament since Diego Maradona in 1986.
In 2014, Gallardo was named South American Coach of the Year after leading River to a record-breaking run of 22 consecutive wins in all competitions. He also became the first manager to lead an Argentine team to victory in the Superclasico derby against bitter rivals Boca Juniors.
Gallardo continued his success in 2015, winning the league and cup double with River. He also led the club to their second Libertadores title, becoming only the third Argentine manager to achieve this feat.
Under Gallardo’s leadership, River have established themselves as one of South America’s powerhouse clubs. They have won six trophies since he took over as manager, and look set to continue their success under his guidance for many years to come.
Honours
Marcelo Gallardo is an Argentine former professional footballer who is currently the manager of River Plate. As a player, he was a versatile midfielder who could also play as a winger or forward. He is widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation and was voted by South American journalists as the best South American footballer of the year in 2006.
He started his career with River Plate in 1995, where he won several domestic and international titles, including the Intercontinental Cup in 1996 and the Copa Libertadores in 2015. He also had spells with Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain, before returning to River Plate in 2013. He announced his retirement from playing in 2019, after winning another Copa Libertadores title.
In 2020, he was appointed manager of River Plate and led them to victory in the Copa Sudamericana, becoming the first coach to win all three major continental trophies (the Copa Libertadores, Sudamericana and Recopa Sudamericana).
References
http://www.goal.com/en/news/2894/argentina/2014/06/10/4803642/river-plate-coach-marcelo-gallardo
