Marcelo Gallardo, arguably the most decorated club coach in South American football over the past decade, has agreed to take charge of Ecuador’s national team on a four-year deal running through the 2030 World Cup.
The appointment, finalized on September 4 after roughly a month of negotiations, marks Gallardo’s first foray into international management. It also represents Ecuador’s most ambitious coaching hire in recent memory, with the Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol (FEF) reportedly committing to a salary exceeding $3M annually, with the total coaching package including staff projected at around $5M.
From Núñez to Quito
Across his legendary tenure at River Plate, spanning more than eight years during his first stint, he collected 14 titles. That haul included domestic league championships and continental trophies that cemented River as the premier force in South American football for a sustained stretch.
Gallardo left River Plate in February 2026, and the Ecuador job represents his return to the touchline.
FEF president Francisco Egas played a central role in bringing the deal together. The negotiations reportedly progressed through late August and into early September before the two sides reached an agreement.
Ecuador’s coaching carousel and the Argentine connection
Gallardo’s appointment continues a pattern of Ecuador turning to Argentine tacticians for its top job. His predecessors, Gustavo Alfaro and Sebastián Beccacece, both hailed from Argentina. Both also met the same fate: group-stage elimination at their respective World Cups.
The road to 2030
Gallardo’s debut on the Ecuador bench is expected to come on September 24 in a friendly against South Korea. That match will be followed by the Copa Kirin tournament in Japan in early October.
The longer-term roadmap is built around two major tournaments: the 2028 Copa América, and the 2030 World Cup, co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco (with centennial matches in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay).
The financial commitment from the FEF underscores how seriously Ecuador is treating this cycle. A total coaching package in the neighborhood of $5M is significant spending for a South American federation outside of Brazil and Argentina.