River Plate Set to Appoint Marcelo Gallardo As Manager to Replace Ramón Díaz

Argentine club River Plate were in shock this week after the sudden departure of manager Ramón Díaz from the helm of the Argentinian team. The transition took very little time to resolve after sporting director Enzo Francescoli announced on Radio La Red Friday that former Argentine international and River Plate star Marcelo Gallardo would take over as soon as some details were finalized.

Gallardo was part of River’s squad as a player on three separate occasions where he was part of six league titles, a Copa Libertadores and a South American Super Cup title.

The former DC United man and Olympic silver medalist would have his second coaching stint after leading Nacional in Uruguay to the league title during his only season on the other side of the River Plate after having retired from the club the year before after sustaining a serious knee injury.

Gallardo was the second option to take over in Núñez after River looked to hire former Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino just days before. “It was very complicated to get Martino,” said Francescoli. “He was still going through a great deal after what happened to him [at Barcelona].”

River should be making the announcement official sometime this week as well as some personnel decisions that will be made for the upcoming season and Copa Sudamericana. River made their way to Mexico City to face Boca Juniors this weekend. The tickets went on sale after the international friendly between Mexico and Israel on Wednesday.