[REVISION HISTORY]

Marcelo Gallardo appointed Ecuador head coach

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What changed

2026-09-09 18:55 UTC → 2026-09-11 22:49 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Marcelo Gallardo has reached an agreement with the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) to become the new head coach of the Ecuador national team, succeeding Sebastián Beccacece. The contract is intended to cover the cycle leading through the 2028 Copa América and the 2030 World Cup. This appointment marks Gallardo’s first role managing a national team. He is highly regarded for his tenure at River Plate, where he secured 14 titles, including two Copa Libertadores. He will be supported by his regular coaching staff, Matías Biscay and Hernán Buján. Gallardo was reportedly drawn to the project by the potential of Ecuador’s current generation of players, including Moisés Caicedo, Kendry Páez, William Pacho, and Piero Hincapié. Under the terms of the agreement, Gallardo intends to maintain his residence in Argentina and travel to Ecuador for national team commitments. The new coaching cycle is expected to begin during the FIFA international window between late September and early October. Gallardo is scheduled to make his debut during an upcoming tour in Asia, which includes a match against South Korea on September 24, followed by a fixture against Japan on October 1, and a third match against a yet-to-be-determined opponent, potentially Panama or New Zealand. However, the appointment has recently entered a period of uncertainty. Despite reports of an imminent agreement, the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) Board of Directors has reportedly postponed the signing of the contract. This delay is intended to allow for a review of an economic report and an analysis of the financial terms of the deal. Consequently, Gallardo remains in Buenos Aires and has not yet traveled to Ecuador. Adding to the developments, Gallardo appeared as the head coach of the Ecuador men's national team on the official FIFA portal.

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