Is the technical department on its way out? Doubts arise at River for 2026 | OneFootball

The new management under Stefano di Carlo will have to decide how roles will be divided between Marcelo Gallardo’s coaching staff and the club’s own department, currently run by Enzo Francescoli and Leonardo Ponzio.

These are highly turbulent days at River following the end of a year best forgotten. The team lost every competition it played in without putting up a fight, and Marcelo Gallardo’s image, previously spotless, suffered an unimaginable deterioration. The newly elected president, Stefano di Carlo, guaranteed his continuity, but given the poor results, some things may change in 2026. Among them, the role and even the existence of the Technical Secretariat: could it disappear next year?

From the day he launched his candidacy and stated that “obviously the leadership and CEO of the football area is Marcelo Gallardo, totally and exclusively” to the afternoon when he asserted that “no one has the keys to the club” ahead of the Superclásico, only two months have passed—but also a long list of failures. The change in stance came right before the defeat against Boca, when Jorge Brito’s successor felt the need to confirm the coach in his position, but also to set boundaries.

In that span, after beating Estudiantes, the Millonario played nine matches: lost six (seven, counting the penalty shootout against Independiente Rivadavia) and was eliminated from both the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Argentina. Then came the defeat at the Bombonera and the recent elimination from the Torneo Clausura against Racing. Devastating results that have left a deep mark on a very negative cycle.

This context explains the doubts surrounding the Technical Secretariat. The department currently led by Enzo Francescoli, with Leonardo Ponzio as his deputy, has had very little influence since Gallardo’s return. In fact, the club legend himself once said: “At River, football is very vertical and all decisions are made by Marcelo Gallardo”.

With an increasingly decorative role, since this year negotiations, contract renewals, signings—everything has been handled by the Muñeco and Mariano Barnao, the coach’s trusted man and the club’s Football Manager—it seemed almost certain that the Uruguayan would end his time at the club along with the end of the D’Onofrio-Brito era.

Now, with the results in and the very poor performances of many of the new faces requested and brought in by the coach and his right-hand man, a huge question mark has arisen in Núñez. Although he hasn’t said so publicly, Enzo still intends to step down after 12 years, and Ponzio, a key figure in the coach’s glorious cycle, might follow suit. Even so, Di Carlo wants the club to regain ground in this area and Gallardo would like to maintain his own, but his terrible year has weakened his position.

It’s hard to imagine a River with the Muñeco where he doesn’t have the final say. However, this is the new dynamic they may be working towards. In a club going through a critical moment, all sorts of rumors have emerged: from the Technical Secretariat remaining unchanged, to the possible arrival of David Trezeguet to replace Francescoli, to the coach continuing as the CEO Di Carlo mentioned.

The truth is that everything that was certain a few months ago has now become uncertain. For the first time since joining the club in 2014, Gallardo could face conditions on his continuity. Nevertheless, his relationship with the president is excellent, probably even better than what he had with D’Onofrio and Brito, and there is optimism that everything can be resolved harmoniously. The coming days will bring tough decisions, and this will be one of them.

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