All set: Leandro Gracián is the frontrunner to take over at Colón

In partnership with

Radio Gol

·29 July 2026

All set: Leandro Gracián is the frontrunner to take over at Colón

Ezequiel Medrán will manage his final match this Saturday against Acassuso, while the club’s leadership works against the clock to have his successor already in Santa Fe ahead of the next two matches that Colón will play at home. With the departure of the current head coach already decided, the leading candidate to take over is Leandro Gracián.

The “Tano” recently submitted his resignation at Quilmes after losing to Colegiales, bringing to an end an 18-match spell at a club mired in deep institutional and sporting crises. In Santa Fe, his name is generating great expectations not only because of his profile, but also because he knows the club very well, having worn the Colón shirt as a player during the first half of 2012. In addition, his fitness coach is Pablo Santella, who was Eduardo Domínguez’s right-hand man during Colón’s historic championship-winning campaign in 2021.

OneFootball Videos

His successful spell at Deportivo Madryn

Before his recent stint with the Cervecero, Gracián left an unforgettable mark in charge of Deportivo Madryn during the 2024 and 2025 seasons:

60% effectiveness: He managed 62 official matches with a very high average of points earned.
From survival to contention: He took over a team caught up in the relegation battle and completely transformed it, turning it into a side fighting for the top spots in the division.
Historic campaign: He led the southern club into the decisive final stages in the fight for promotion to the First Division.

Leandro Gracián’s full staff

Head Coach: Leandro Gracián Assistant Coach: Manuel León Assistant Coach: Gabriel Valles Fitness Coach: Pablo Santella Fitness Coach: Santiago Adrover

The contenders who fell by the wayside

The list of names for the Sabalero bench was drastically narrowed in recent hours due to several decisive factors:

Javier Sanguinetti (Ruled out): He was the other coach considered a frontrunner for the position. However, Colón’s leadership made thorough inquiries with the last clubs where he worked to learn about his background, and the references they received were far from good, which caused his candidacy to collapse.

Lucas Pusineri (Ruled out): His arrival was completely ruled out due to serious family issues that require him to remain in Buenos Aires at this time, forcing him to withdraw from consideration. As a result, the path has been practically cleared for Gracián to take on the challenge of leading the first team during the crucial run of matches coming up at the Brigadier López Stadium.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.