It’s night in the River Campin the millionaire training complex in Ezeiza. It’s night and Marcelo Gallardoon the training pitch, says goodbye to the club he loves. Emotion, sadness, and helplessness invade him. His voice breaks. Anguish wells up. It looks like it’s about to break.
After meeting with president Stéfano Di Carlo and manager Enzo Francescoli, Muñeco faces the club’s official camera and records his farewell message, one day after the defeat against Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s Vélez. What a paradox: Gallardo had dealt a lethal blow to Mellizo that cost him his continuity in Boca in the Madrid 2018 final; and now, although the games are not equal, Guillermo took a mini revenge on Marcelo.
And Gallardo speaks: “This is a message for all River fans. I will try to be brief so that I am not overwhelmed by the emotion and pain of announcing that Thursday will be my last game. I only have words of gratitude, mainly to this enormous club, to its people, for their unconditional love during all these years, even in the most delicate moments like this, in which clearly things did not go as we had planned.”
The coach continues: “Emotion and pain invade my soul for not being able to meet the objectives. I simply also want to thank those who have really believed in me, in my entire coaching staff, to represent this enormous institution with what that entails, and I have nothing but words of gratitude for everyone.”
And he ends: “Simply, my reciprocal love for all the fans and I hope with all my heart that this institution that has grown enormously in recent years, a model throughout the region, will soon be able to find good football results to further enhance what River means as an institution in the world. Thank you very much and I send a big hug to all of you.” Gallardo touched his heart and walked until he left the focus of the room.
The numbers have never accompanied Gallardo in River
Since he returned on August 10, 2024 for his second cycle at the club (he replaced Martín Demichelis), Marcelo Gallardo has never managed to find a foothold in River. It cost him both internationally and domestically. He invested around 50 million dollars in reinforcements and the team never convinced. The numbers are overwhelming: he directed 85 games, winning 35, drawing 32 and losing 18. An efficiency of 53.72 percent. No title. The final blow was achieved by the last negative streak: 20 games and 13 defeats… Too little for a giant club.
