Buenos Aires, February 26 (NA) – In the search for Marcelo Gallardo's successor, Eduardo Coudet's name has gained traction in the River Plate world. Amid growing expectations, the coach decided to speak publicly from Spain, where he currently manages Deportivo Alavés. At the press conference ahead of the match against Levante UD in LaLiga, the coach was categorical when referring to rumors linking him to the Monumental bench and assured that there had been no formal approach from the management. “I swear on my four children that no one from River has contacted me or my agent,” said “Chacho,” attempting to quash the versions that place him as the main candidate, as learned by the Argentine News Agency. However, far from being indifferent, he acknowledged the club's institutional weight and highlighted that being considered is a recognition of his career, as he explained, River is “on a par with Real Madrid and Barcelona,” while also emphasizing that Gallardo's departure creates a special context due to being one of the most influential cycles in the institution's recent history. Meanwhile, Coudet is going through a consolidation process in Spanish football, where he took over in December 2024 and has since led 53 official matches with an irregular but competitive record, in the midst of a fight to avoid relegation. In this context, the coach revealed that weeks ago he received a call from Rosario Central to return to the country, but decided to continue his European project due to the team's participation in the Copa del Rey, a tournament in which Alavés reached the quarterfinals. Asked what would happen in the event of a concrete offer, the manager avoided feeding speculation and resorted to his usual irony to close the matter, stating that he does not think about hypothetical scenarios because his attention is exclusively on the present sporting moment. IP In any case, behind closed doors at River, Chacho's name continues to top the list of candidates and, although there are no confirmed public negotiations, the definition of the new coach is increasingly close as the club begins the transition after the end of the Gallardo cycle.
