Marcelo Gallardo has reportedly agreed to become the next manager of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/saudi-pro-league-tv-schedule/">Saudi Pro League</a> side Al-Ittihad. The Middle Eastern club previously sacked Nuno Espirito Santo earlier in the month after a poor run of form. Al-Ittihad sat sixth in the standings when they fired the former <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/wolves-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Wolves</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/tottenham-tv-schedule/">Tottenham Hotspur</a> manager.



Gallardo is set to now get the chance to right the ship at the club. The Argentine, however, will have a wait a bit to guide his new team on the pitch. Much like Europe, the Saudi top flight is also currently on an international break. Al-Ittihad does not play again for over a week.



TyC Sports is reporting that Gallardo has accepted Al-Ittihad’s offer and will soon travel to Saudi Arabia to make the deal official. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano also confirms the upcoming move. The Argentine coach is set to sign a one-and-a-half-year deal with his new club. There is also an option to extend Gallardo’s stay in Saudi Arabia by another 18 months as well. 



<h2>Argentine coach brings impressive record to Middle East</h2>



Gallardo previously featured as an attacking midfielder during his playing career. He initially starred for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/river-plate-tv-schedule/">River Plate</a> and French side <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/monaco-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Monaco</a> before making moves to other clubs around the world. One of these stops included a one-year deal with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">Major League Soccer</a> team <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/dc-united-tv-schedule/">D.C. United</a> in 2008.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231115_WST_470219_Benzema-Saudi-1200x675.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-470319" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Benzema-Saudi-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Benzema-Saudi-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Benzema-Saudi-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Benzema-Saudi.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>After a hugely successful run with River Plate, Gallardo will oversee the talents at Al-Ittihad, including Karim Benzema. </figcaption></figure>



After retiring from the pitch, Gallardo quickly transitioned into coaching. He was hired by Uruguayan side Nacional as head coach just days after retiring as a player. The new manager led the team to the title in his first season at the helm.



Despite leaving Nacional after just one year, famed Argentine club River Plate appointed Gallardo in 2014. The young coach was a resounding success at his old outfit. Gallardo collected a host of trophies during his eight years with the club. River Plate won the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/superliga-argentina-tv-schedule/">Argentine Primera Division</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/copa-libertadores-tv-schedule/">Copa Libertadores</a>, Copa Argentina, Supercopa Argentina, and Copa Sudamericana titles during Gallardo’s reign as manager.



<h2>Gallardo makes Saudi Pro League move despite preference for European job</h2>



Gallardo <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/marcelo-gallardo-set-to-take-over-al-ittihad-20231115-BUS-85488.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly</a> wanted to make a move to Europe after departing River Plate in late 2022. The coach even supposedly rejected opportunities in MLS, Brazil, and Mexico. Nevertheless, the right chance did not come for the manager. Instead, Gallardo will now join some high-profile players in the Middle East.



Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté and Fabinho all joined the Saudi side earlier this summer. The two <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/france-national-team-tv-schedule/">France</a> internationals were the first stars to agree contracts with Al-Ittihad in early July. Fabinho then united with the Frenchman a few weeks later in a $50 million move from <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/liverpool-tv-schedule/">Liverpool</a>. Portuguese playmaker Jota and former <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-betis-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Real Betis</a> defender Luiz Felipe also signed on with the club as well.



Despite bringing in a plethora of new stars, Al-Ittihad has struggled a bit so far this season. After winning their first four league matches of the campaign, the club then only collected two victories in their next eight games. This was when team brass decided to fire Nuno Espirito Santo.



Gallardo will likely be at the helm for their next game later next week. Al-Ittihad next faces Al-Ettifaq on Thursday, Nov. 23.



PHOTOS: IMAGO.

Marcelo Gallardo joins Benzema and Kante in Saudi Pro League

Former River Plate manager Marcelo Gallardo has reportedly agreed to become the next head coach of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad.

<a href="http:\/\/www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/uploaded_images/Gallardo-DC-751748.jpg"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="http:\/\/www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/uploaded_images/Gallardo-DC-751748.jpg"></a></figure></div> <a href="http:\/\/www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/uploaded_images/4dc-751797.jpg"><div><figure class="image"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px;text-align: center;cursor: pointer" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20080129_WST_69522_4dc-751779.webp&amp;width=500&amp;height=310" alt="" border="0"></figure></div></a>

Kartik Krishnaiyer, <a href="http:\/\/csrnusa.com/ussoccerspot">host of CSRN’s American Soccer Show</a>
For all the hullabaloo about the single entity structure of MLS through the years one club has always seemingly gotten it right- always seemingly done better than everyone else with regards to scouting and securing Latin American talent, developing a brand name south of the border and making significant inroads in the mainstream media at home. That club is of course DC United.
For many of our readers and listeners DC United is known by a four letter acronym: SCUM. They are the only MLS team to elicit such hatred because in-spite of the efforts of other clubs like the LA Galaxy to put themselves on a similar pedestal, DC United is the only club that’s earned both the envy and respect of its opposition since the league’s inception. The bottom line is this: Not only has DC won more MLS Cups and Supporters Shields than any other club, but they have won more truly meaningful international matches than the rest of the league combined. DC United is the only American club to have defeated a reigning South American club champion, the only club to have defeated an English Premier League club in England and the only club to have won more than a single road match in the history of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Now after back to back supporter shields coupled with early playoff exits, United wants more. Led by Kevin Payne, the most seasoned executive in the league, and Dave Kaspar whose scouting network is fully developed in Latin America, unlike many other MLS clubs who are just now taking scouting seriously the “Empire” (sorry Red Bulls fans- I know your SC is the Empire Supporters Club, but they not you are the real empire) is retooling and unlike other MLS clubs who have to sell the potential of the American market to players being sought, United can show off its trophy collection and its record of utilizing Latin players in a Latin oriented style better than anyone in MLS.
Yesterday’s massive signing of five players, four of whom come per the usual DC United scouting operation of finding Latin diamonds in the rough is a message to the league. Based on the history of Marco Ethceverry, Raul Diaz Arce, Christian Gomez, Facundo Erepen and Luciano Emilio, the rest of the league ought to be trembling in their boots about these acquisitions. The fifth signing, Designated Player Marcello Gallardo is a bit riskier. Gallardo, unlike many MLS stars has actually had a good club career in Europe and was outstanding for River Plate. Gallardo also was a force for Argentina. However by signing Gallardo, the Black and Red have parted ways with Christian Gomez, something I feel is risky. Gomez fit DC United like a glove and even though he is now 33, Gallardo whose club football has always been played for big clubs in big leagues (River Plate, Monaco, PSG) may or may not adjust to MLS. When you sign player straight away from Latin America, they often times acclimate themselves better than players coming from Europe, even if they are Latin. I cannot properly explain this phenomena, but based on twelve years of watching MLS I am sure it exists.
Regardless of how Gallardo works out in Washington, the other four signings indicate again that DC’s scouting network and reputation south of the border deemed the club ready to take advantage of the liberalized rules regarding international players in MLS, while the rest of the league scrambles to fill their squad.

The Empire Strikes Back - World Soccer Talk

The Empire Strikes Back

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