Marcelo Gallardo will step down as River Plate manager this week, bringing the curtain down on a second spell in charge of the Argentine giants after a difficult run of results.
His final game will come on Thursday night at the Monumental against Banfield, closing the chapter on one of the most defining managerial eras in the club’s history.
The club confirmed the decision through a video released after Monday’s training session. River have lost 13 of their last 20 matches, a run that slowly eroded belief and left the team drifting from the standards Gallardo himself set years ago. The defeat to Vélez Sarsfield in Liniers felt like the straw that broke the camel’s back.
The second stint was always going to be judged against the first. During Gallardo’s first stint, he turned River into a continental force, winning the Copa Libertadores and making River Plate one of the most dominant sides in South America.
The second spell never found its footing. River were inconsistent almost from the start, and the defeats began to pile up.
Having lost 13 games in 20 matches, there was little room for argument, especially at a club where expectations are at the highest level.
In his farewell message, Gallardo thanked the supporters and admitted the pain of falling short of expectations. His voice wavered at times.
He spoke about standards, about knowing when to step aside, but there was no attempt to deflect.
His final game at the Monumental against Banfield will not be remembered for whatever has happened in recent months but for Gallardo’s place in River’s history.
The Libertadores triumphs and the unforgettable nights against Boca. Most importantly, it will be a match to say a proper goodbye to one of the club’s biggest legends.
