Marcelo Gallardo's next move has been a topic of discussion after he ended his successful stint at River in 2014-2022. According to Olé, Gallardo was expected to direct a team in the Champions League, but instead, he decided to rest. However, the big teams in Europe did not call him, and he did not want to join second-order teams, leading him to take a strange challenge in Arab football.
Gallardo's time in Arab football was short-lived, lasting around six months, before he returned to River. This time around, he lasted 18 months but failed to win any titles. His team struggled to play well, and he was unable to make the necessary changes to improve their performance.
Now, Gallardo is set to direct Ecuador, a team with modest ambitions, aiming to finish among the top four in Conmebol and reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup. This move is a departure from his previous expectations, and it remains to be seen how he will adapt to this new challenge.
Gallardo will take over from Gustavo Alfaro and Sebastián Beccacece, who were tasked with consolidating a quality leap for the team.