Marcelo Gallardo set to coach Ecuador, with debut planned for next FIFA window

Marcelo Gallardo is returning to management with a national-team job for the first time. Ecuador’s football federation said the former River Plate coach will take charge on a four-year contract, with qualification for the 2030 World Cup as the central objective.

The agreement followed an intense week of negotiations in Madrid between Gallardo and federation president Francisco Egas. His first matches could come during the next FIFA international window, when Ecuador is scheduled to play a quadrangular tournament against Japan, Panama and New Zealand from October 1 to 5.

Gallardo, 50, has not coached since his second spell at River Plate ended in February. His first tenure there, from 2014 to 2022, brought major success, including Copa Libertadores titles in 2015 and 2018, the Copa Sudamericana in 2014, three Copa Argentina trophies and two Supercopa victories. He returned to River in 2024 after a season with Saudi club Al-Ittihad.

Ecuador will be his first national-team assignment. He replaces fellow Argentine Sebastián Beccacece, under whom Ecuador qualified for the World Cup held this year before losing to Mexico in the round of 32. The next tournament will take place in Spain, Portugal and Morocco in 2030, with centenary matches also scheduled in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.