Marcelo Gallardo has arrived in Ecuador to become the new head coach of the national team. The 50-year-old Argentine manager will sign a four-year contract with the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) and is set to make his debut in the upcoming friendly against South Korea, as reported by La Nación AR Deportes. Gallardo replaces Sebastián Beccacece, who qualified the team for the 2026 World Cup and led them to the round of 16, where they lost 2-0 to Mexico on July 1.
The Ecuadorian national team currently sits in third place in their World Cup qualifying group, with 4 points from three matches. Their record shows one win, one draw, and one loss, having scored two goals and conceded two. In recent form, the team has one win, two draws, and two losses in their last five outings, and is coming off two consecutive defeats. FEF president Francisco Egas has faith in the long-term project. "The 'Muñeco' is entrusted to contest its sixth World Cup in history in 2030," Egas stated.
When will Gallardo make his debut?
The plan for the technical staff and the federation is for Marcelo Gallardo to take charge of his first match in the next FIFA window. That match will be an international friendly against South Korea, scheduled for September 24. Gallardo will be accompanied by his usual backroom team, including his collaborators Matías Biscay and Hernán Buján. Following that fixture, La Tri will face a demanding international quadrangular tournament in October, hosted by Japan. There, they will face the host nation in Yokohama. Depending on the result, they will play in the final or the third-place match against the winner of the Panama vs. New Zealand clash. Fans can follow the full schedule on our fixtures page.
What pedigree does the new manager bring?
Marcelo Gallardo arrives for his first experience as a senior national team coach with an extensive trophy cabinet. His last job was at River Plate, a club he managed in two spells (2014-2022 and 2024) and with which he won multiple titles. As manager of 'Los Millonarios', Gallardo lifted the Copa Libertadores in 2015 and 2018, the Copa Sudamericana in 2014, three Recopa Sudamericana titles (2015, 2016, 2019), three Copa Argentina trophies (2016, 2017, 2019), and two Argentine Supercups (2017, 2019). He also won the Copa Suruga Bank in 2015. His playing legacy is equally impressive. He wore the shirt of River Plate, Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, DC United, and Nacional de Montevideo, retiring at the latter club in the 2010-11 season. With River Plate, he won six Argentine Primera División titles and the 1996 Copa Libertadores as a player.
What is the current context of the national team?
Gallardo takes over a team that has already secured its place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup but is looking to make a qualitative leap. Ecuador is currently two points behind group leaders Germany in the standings. The team's World Cup history is mixed. Their first appearance was in 2002 under Hernán Gómez, where they did not advance from the group stage. Four years later, with Luis Fernando Suárez at the helm, they reached the round of 16, being eliminated by England. After failing to qualify in 2010, they returned in 2014 with Reinaldo Rueda but again exited in the first round. They missed out on Russia 2018 and now, after the Beccacece cycle, they aim for a better performance in the tournament to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The senior squad and their detailed statistics are available in the squad and stats sections.
What challenges lie ahead on the road to 2030?
Marcelo Gallardo's four-year contract has a clear goal: to prepare Ecuador for the 2030 World Cup. This tournament will be special as it celebrates the competition's centenary. Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will be the main hosts, but some inaugural matches will be played in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. For La Tri, qualifying for that tournament would mark their sixth appearance in the history of football's biggest event. The journey begins with immediate preparation, including the September friendly and the October quadrangular, serving as a testing ground for the new technical project. Ecuador's next fixture is on September 24, 2026, against South Korea in an away match.
