Marcelo Gallardo reappears at the World Cup: Unmissable anecdotes and his title favorites

Marcelo Gallardo, the celebrated former coach of River Plate, has emerged from a period of public silence to join ESPN's broadcast team for the 2026 World Cup. Since stepping down from his coaching role in February, Gallardo had largely withdrawn from the media spotlight, engaging primarily in personal activities like playing paddle tennis with friends.

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They understood that accompanying me in silence was the best they could offer me, and they did. I was always grateful for that.

His reappearance on the show "La Casa del Kun," hosted by Sergio Agüero and featuring other football legends like Carlos Tevez and Radamel Falcao, marked a return to the public eye. In a relaxed setting, Gallardo gradually opened up, sharing reflections and anecdotes. He became emotional when recalling the quiet but profound support he received from his parents during his formative years. He contrasted this with the excessive behavior of some parents in youth football, recounting an incident where he stood up to his father, who had been his coach, to prevent him from yelling.

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Especially when you see what happens in youth football, with parents going crazy yelling at the referee, at the kids, at their own children. I wouldn't have wanted that.

Gallardo, who turned 50 in January, also drew on his own World Cup experiences from 1998 and 2002 to describe the intense pre-match nerves players feel. He noted how these feelings dissipate once the game begins. Looking ahead to the current World Cup, he identified France as a strong contender and expressed a preference for teams with robust midfields, such as Argentina, Spain, Germany, and Portugal, believing they will perform well as the tournament progresses. He also commented on the increased media attention surrounding teams today compared to his playing days.

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My father was my coach in youth football, and one day he gave me a strong indication, he yelled at me for something. I stood up and told him: 'You say one more thing and I'm not playing anymore.' And he never said anything to me again.