Argentinian Ricardo Gareca tipped as new national team coach

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Renowned Argentinian football coach Ricardo Gareca has been tipped as one of the leading candidates to take over at the helm of Bahrain’s senior men’s national team.

This was confirmed yesterday by an official from the Bahrain Football Association (BFA), who said that Gareca is among those being considered for the position vacated by popular Portuguese tactician Helio Sousa.

According to reports from Argentinian media, Gareca has received a formal proposal to become Bahrain’s new head coach. Gareca is a former national team player for Argentina.

Nicknamed “Tiger”, he was an attacker who enjoyed domestic spells with Boca Juniors, Sarmiento, River Plate, America de Cali, Velez Sarsfield, and Independiente, and collected 20 caps for the national team.

After beginning his managerial career in 1995, Gareca became Peru’s national team coach in 2015. He helped guide the Peruvians to the 2018 FIFA World Cup and to clinching second place at the 2019 Copa America.

It remains to be seen if Gareca will be announced by the BFA as the national team’s new head coach. He will have big shoes to fill, with Sousa being one of the most successful head coaches in the history of Bahrain football.

The highlight of Sousa’s fouryear stint with the national team was their victory in the 24th Gulf Cup in 2019—the first time they ever claimed the coveted trophy, ending a wait of nearly 50 years.

Sousa’s contract with Bahrain ended in June and was not reRicardo Gareca newed by the BFA.