Marcelo Gallardo left River Plate

This is a bomb for river. This is a bomb for Argentine football. Suddenly surprised Marcelo Gallardo, called a press conference and announced that his cycle as coach at the millionaire club was coming to an end. From January 1, 2023, there will be another coach to direct the diagonal red band team. It’s going to be weird. It’s going to be weird. El Muñeco has been the owner of that place since mid-2014. This is the end of an era, perhaps the most successful in the history of river.

“I will be brief. I have come to make an announcement clearly. Last night I informed the leaders that this is the end of my contract, it will end in December and I will no longer continue with the club,” said Gallardo at the beginning. As the Doll spoke, social networks exploded, with fans of river thanking him, along with the fans of Mouth mocking

He followed up with the soon-to-be former DT of river: “It was one of the hardest decisions. I will rest first. Beyond the announcement, I’m here to thank the people who trusted me, Enzo (Francescoli, the manager), Jorge (Brito, the president), Matías (Patanian, the vice president), the whole leadership team for giving me the opportunity to express myself with complete freedom to develop our work. I am grateful to the many people who faithfully accompanied this process for eight and a half years. I am also thankful to my coaching staff. They push me and keep me going so that I continue in a constant and permanent maelstrom of multiple efforts.

more than doll: “I am also thankful to every player who has gone through this wonderful phase. To all those who had the greatness to wear this shirt and get used to it. To the media, which has greatly respected and highlighted the work all these years”.

There are words for fans of river, of course: “Lastly I want to thank the fan. Every little tribute they paid me on entering a playing field will be an indelible memory for me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for such a show of love you have shown me and my entire work group. I will finish my contract accordingly, as I should, and it is very possible that on Sunday I will have my last game at Monumental. I am grateful for all the love you have given me. It’s a wonderful story.”

The age Gallant as a technician river gave 14 titles, saved after 422 games, with 226 wins, 111 draws and 85 losses. He rounded off a 65% validity. However, beyond the numbers, he ranked River on an international level, imposed a line of total fame and achieved strong supremacy in hand-to-hand duels with Boca. Everyone has a moment that is very difficult to match in history: the 2018 Libertadores final won against Boca in Madrid…

What is the feeling Gallant in this surprising decision? Muñeco himself tried to explain it: “Despite the sadness, I have an inner peace that makes me feel better about myself. The path taken all these years makes me feel very proud. That’s the word I want to highlight. The road has been extraordinary. Everything has an end. I think it is time to end a beautiful and very important cycle”.

There will be days of intense emotions. On Sunday, Gallant He will direct the River for the last time to Monumental, in front of Rosario Central. And his last game was on the next date, against Karera, in Avellaneda. Who will succeed him in 2023? It is a question that today has no details, but many names are dancing: Martín Demichelis, Hernán Crespo, Matías Almeyda, Pablo Aimar and even Ramón Díaz. Anyway, this is the smallest. The bomb exploded.