Ricardo Zielinski, the architect of the champion: 'We came back for this, to see if we could give Belgrano a title'

Ricardo Zielinski, the architect of Belgrano's historic Apertura 2026 championship, remained remarkably composed even after securing the club's first top-division title. "We came back for this, to see if we could help give Belgrano a title," Zielinski stated in the post-match press conference, acknowledging the players' place in Cordobese football history.

Zielinski, 66, maintained a low profile throughout the tournament. Belgrano's path to the title was a rollercoaster, marked by a crucial 4-0 victory over Sarmiento to qualify for the playoffs. They then secured key wins against rivals Talleres (1-0), a dominant 2-0 victory over Union, and a penalty shootout win against Argentinos Juniors before triumphing in the final against River Plate.

His measured approach, even during crucial moments, is a hallmark of his coaching style. "The coach has to maintain calm, observe many things, how to balance the team. You have to see it calmly to see it well. Others have a different way, I have this one. I see it calmly to help the players," he explained previously. This philosophy extended to the championship match, where he refrained from celebrating goals, noting how VAR reviews and the fast pace of the game diminish the impact of immediate celebrations.

This title adds another significant achievement to Zielinski's tenure at Belgrano. He previously guided the team to promotion in 2011 during the memorable playoff against River Plate and secured qualification for the Copa Sudamericana in 2013. Despite the magnitude of this achievement, Zielinski expressed his deep gratitude and connection to the club, stating, "Belgrano has taught me to value people, to love people wonderfully, and I have no idea what might happen from now on. But I feel great happiness because these boys (the players) entered the history of Cordobese football."