Pablo Longoria could take River Plate sporting director role after Marseille exit | OneFootball

According to Superdeporte, Pablo Longoria could become River Plate’s new sporting director, a radical shift after leaving Olympique de Marseille last month.

His Marseille tenure ended in March after six years, following weeks sidelined amid an internal restructuring. The Asturian, formerly of Valencia, officially stepped down as president.

The prospective move would take him to Argentina and a different football culture. River are an institution that demands immediate results and long-term vision.

Longoria joined Marseille in 2020 as sporting director, then became president in 2021 at 35, one of Europe’s youngest club leaders. He drove a rebuild that put the club back in the hunt for Europe and stiffened resistance to PSG.

The 2025-26 campaign was marked by instability as the owner reshaped the hierarchy and reduced his influence, paving the way for talks on his exit. An interim leadership was installed while a new president is sought.

At River, he would act as the link between the board and the Technical Secretariat as sporting director, working with Di Carlo and Francescoli. His reputation rests on elite scouting and talent identification, with successes at Juventus, Valencia and Marseille.

In Valencia terms, he left a mark alongside Mateu Alemany and Marcelino García Toral in a structure built on market knowledge that returned the club to the Champions League. Such a jump from a European presidency to South American football is unusual, which is why this potential move stands out.

Source: Superdeporte