Ecuador: Marcelo Gallardo appointed head coach

At 50, the Argentine will take charge of a national team for the first time after his successful spell at River Plate

World Today at 05:56

Add Foot Africa on Google

Ecuador: Marcelo Gallardo appointed head coach

Marcelo Gallardo is the new head coach of Ecuador. At 50, the Argentine is set to lead a national team for the first time in his career.

The former River Plate manager succeeds Sebastián Beccacece, who was dismissed after Ecuador were eliminated by Mexico (0-2) in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. The Ecuadorian Football Federation officially announced Gallardo’s appointment on Monday, September 14.

Tenemos talento, estructura y ambición. Estamos listos.

Que la gente crea, porque tiene con qué creer.

Bienvenido Marcelo#LaNuevaEra #LaEraGallardo pic.twitter.com/MOSlYqAwQ4
— FEF 🇪🇨 (@FEFecuador) September 14, 2026

The Argentine coach arrives with an impressive trophy haul. During his time at River Plate, he won 14 trophies, including two Copa Libertadores titles and one Copa Sudamericana. Gallardo is also familiar with French football, having played for AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain before turning to coaching.

“We went for Marcelo Gallardo because of what he has won, but above all because of what he represents,” said Francisco Egas, president of the Ecuadorian Football Federation, following the announcement.

After spells with River Plate and, more recently, Al-Ittihad, Gallardo is now embarking on a new challenge. With Ecuador, he will move from the day-to-day demands of club football to the different challenges of managing a national team, with the upcoming international fixtures his first major test.