Marcelo Gallardo Appointed as the New Head Coach of AI-Ittihad

Famous Argentine coach Marcelo Gallardo has officially agreed to join AI-Ittihad Club to coach the first football team. Gallardo’s one-and-a-half-year contract with the team represents a big step forward for the coaching staff of the team.

The board of directors of the club wished Coach Gallardo and his team all the best and expressed the hope that they, along with the players, will be crucial in fulfilling the dreams of Al-Ittihad supporters. The supporters, who are renowned for their steadfast support, are looking forward to the next adventure with the new coaching team.

After Nuno Santo, the Portuguese coach, had his contract terminated, the decision was made to bring in Marcelo Gallardo. After conducting a comprehensive technical evaluation of Santo’s tenure, the club decided to part ways with him due to internal conflicts sparked by recent events, such as a defeat by the Iraqi Air Force.

AI-Ittihad has acquired notable players like Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Fabinho, and Jota during an unprecedented summer transfer window. With these additions, the squad hopes to get stronger in time for December’s 20th FIFA Club World Cup, which will be held in Saudi Arabia. AI-Ittihad is keen to make a big impression on the global scene, and the forthcoming tournament is very important to the team.

Who is Marcelo Gallardo?

Gallardo started his career in the club’s youth divisions, Gallardo made his Premier League debut in Argentina in 1993 at the age of 17. Following a six-year stint during which he captured the 1996 Copa Libertadores and the 1997 Supercopa Libertadores in addition to five local league titles, he moved to AS Monaco FC in Ligue 1 of France, where he was voted French League Footballer of the Year in 2000. Despite having performance issues in both FIFA World Cups, Gallardo competed for Argentina.

Gallardo was a playmaker and an attacking midfielder in his playing days. His vision, technique, class, dribbling, and, most importantly, his defence-splitting passing, were highly regarded.

Marcelo’s Managing Career:

Before ending his playing career in 2010, joined José Farías de Vicente López Technical School 62 in Vicente López, Buenos Aires, awarded Gallardo a coaching certificate.
He accepted the Nacional de Montevideo team’s offer to become their coach a few days after declaring his retirement from the team that won the 2010–11 Uruguayan Primera División season championship. Next season, Nacional defended their title and won Gallardo’s 2011–2012 championship.
Following the contentious resignation of Ramón Díaz on May 27, 2014, technical secretary and former teammate Enzo Francescoli introduced Gallardo as the new River Plate manager on June 6. [1]

The team tied its all-time unbeaten record on November 9 with 32 straight wins before falling to Estudiantes de La Plata three days later. The Argentine press praised Gallardo’s coaching style.

Gallardo’s successful tenure coaching River Plate earned him the nickname Napoleon from both the fans and the press.