“I never doubted coming, despite being in a comfort zone in Europe,” said Martín Demichelis this Wednesday night during his presentation as the new River coach, instead of none other than Marcelo Gallardo.
“I didn’t talk to Marcelo, I say it publicly. I thank his coaching staff because they have provided us with a lot of data to make the transition much easier. That speaks of good manners. I don’t feel dishonored if I don’t see Marcelo in the next few days, which comes from very strong emotions. Let’s leave him alone and calm. Someday the meeting will take place,” the former defender commented on his relationship with the Doll during the press conference that took place in Núñez.
The 41-year-old former defender, who is beginning his first experience as coach of a First Division club, signed a contract in the afternoon with the club’s president, Jorge Brito, and vice-president Matías Patanián, and hours later gave a press conference to the who joined the millionaire manager, Enzo Francescoli.
The Uruguayan referred to the hiring of Justiniano Posse from Córdoba: “For me it was very clear when I thought about it and when I spoke with the managers that Martín was the right person. He is here because of his ability. I am here to accompany and he is a Nice. Leonardo Ponzio is going to accompany me in the technical office. This is a big family and we try to pull everyone in the same direction. Martín is our light and we will accompany him”.
Demichelis will take office accompanied by former goalkeeper Germán Lux and recently retired Javier Pinola as field assistants, physical trainers Flavio Pérez and Diego Riberi, and goalkeeping coach Alejandro Saccone.
“If I came with four or five Germans, the first thing they were going to criticize me was that I wasn’t updated with Argentine football. It’s the truth. I formed a group with great capacity and loyalty. With Javi (we faced each other in Bayern-Nuremberg and we We found ourselves in the National Team. Today the planets aligned and a dream came true”, explained the brand new DT.
The arrival of Demichelis to River had been “spoiled” this Monday by Bayern Munich, when the German club made official his departure as DT of the Reserve team that he arrived in April 2021. In his statement, the Bavarian cast announced that the coach would ” transferred to River Plate from Buenos Aires, at his own request, to assume the position of head coach”.
“I have many words of gratitude – Demichelis continued – for this great institution. I have no doubts that together with my group, which was formed with great human beings, we are going to honor this position so that River follows a successful line of continuity. We have a great vocation with my team to continue on this path”.
The defending runner-up in the world in Brazil in 2014 played for River between 1997 and 2003 before having an extensive and successful career in European football (Bayern, Atlético de Madrid, Manchester City, Espanyol and Málaga) that ended in 2017, without returning to the club of its beginnings. Among his most outstanding achievements are three Bundesligas and one Premier League.
In 2019 Demichelis took charge of the Bayern Munich Under 19 team – he played eight years in the German club – and two years later he went up to the Reserve team, Bayern Munich II, which plays in the Fourth Division. There he led 58 games, with 35 wins, 13 draws and 10 losses.