Ecuador national team entrusted to Argentine specialist

The Ecuador national team has been entrusted to Argentine coach Marcelo Gallardo.

Operativ Media reports that the 50-year-old specialist worked as a head coach at various clubs prior to this appointment. Gallardo has managed River Plate, Al-Ittihad, and Nacional.

During the Argentine manager's last stint at River Plate, the team played 86 matches from August 2024 to February 2026. Winning 38 of these matches, the Buenos Aires-based team drew 27 times and lost 21 games.

The Ecuador national team competed in Group E at the 2026 World Cup. Having earned 4 points from 3 matches, the team finished the group stage in third place. Ecuador faced Mexico in the round of 32 and bowed out of the World Cup with a 0-2 defeat.

Gallardo replaced Sebastián Beccacece in this role. The Argentine specialist led the Ecuador national team from August 2024 to July 2026.