Marcelo Gallardo Set to Become Ecuador’s 10th Argentine Coach

Marcelo Gallardo is set to begin his first job as a national-team coach with Ecuador, continuing a long Argentine tradition on the country’s bench. He will become the 10th Argentine coach, including interim appointments, to lead Ecuador since the team’s official debut at the 1938 Bolivarian Games.

Gallardo is expected to sign a four-year contract covering the 2028 Copa América and qualification for the 2030 World Cup. The tournament will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.

The former River Plate coach arrives after spells at River, Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia and Nacional of Uruguay. He began his managerial career at Nacional in 2011, winning the Uruguayan league title. His most successful period came at River, where he won 14 trophies, including the 2015 and 2018 Copa Libertadores.

Ecuador’s most recent Argentine coaches were Sebastián Beccacece and Gustavo Alfaro. Beccacece coached from August 2024 to July 2026, reached the quarterfinals of the 2024 Copa América and guided Ecuador to second place in 2026 World Cup qualifying. Ecuador later lost to Mexico in the round of 16 at the Azteca Stadium.

Alfaro led Ecuador from October 2020 to November 2022 and secured qualification for the 2022 World Cup. Ecuador beat hosts Qatar in its opening match and drew with the Netherlands, but lost to Senegal in the decisive group game and went out. Other Argentines to coach Ecuador included Jorge Célico, Gustavo Quinteros, Juan Eduardo Hohberg, Roberto Oscar Resquín and Juan Gregorio Esperón.