According to Mirror, Everton have received a boost in their pursuit of Marcelo Gallardo. It is believed that the River Plate manager is unwilling to commit his future to the Argentine outfit. That means he could become a free-agent following River Plate’s match against Central Cordoba on Friday – allowing the Toffees to make a move as they continue their search for a Marco Silva replacement.
Who is Marcelo Gallardo?
Gallardo is regarded as one of the most promising coaches in Latin America. He began his managerial career in 2011, taking charge of Uruguayan giants Nacional, where he had retired just the previous campaign. However, his spell at Nacional didn’t last long as he left the club at the end of the 2011/12 campaign.
Gallardo was then appointed as the manager of River Plate in 2014. And the club has never had to look back since, with the 43-year-old helping them win numerous titles. Indeed, Gallardo won the Copa Libertadores in his first season in charge of River Plate as well as the Recopa Sudamericana.
Although River Plate have continued to lag behind their arch-rivals BOCA Juniors, they have improved a lot under the leadership of Gallardo. They have even become an appealing destination for young talented South American footballers, with the likes of Lucas Alario, Marcelo Saracchi and Exequiel Palacios emerging through the ranks in recent years.
Is Gallardo the perfect replacement for Everton?
Gallardo may not be the flashiest options for Everton in their bid to search for a new manager. But, the Argentine’s ongoing spell with River Plate suggests that he is capable of building a team right from scratch. And his willingness to give youngsters the opportunity to perform at the highest level of football bodes well for any club in the Premier League.
At the same time, however, Gallardo’s lack of managerial experience, especially in Europe could be problematic knowing the fact that there is a significant amount of difference between the style of play between the two continents. Not to mention, he will also have to deal with massive expectations and constant criticism – something he may not be as used to as other candidates available on the market.
Hence, Everton should continue to explore and preferably sign someone who has experience of managing in Europe and is well aware of the English market. Marcelino, for one, could be an interesting choice, having been sacked by Valencia earlier in the campaign.
