The representative of Eduardo Coudet, Christian Bragarnik, confirmed having received a call from the leadership of River Plate to inform him that the “Chacho” is “one of the candidates.” Additionally, as reported by the Argentine News Agency, the businessman stated that the first communication between both parties took place today. Following the departure of Marcelo Gallardo, and although he has a contract with Alavés of the Spanish first division, Eduardo Coudet is beginning to emerge as the main option to be the new coach of the “Millionaire.” The day after Gallardo's last match in charge of River, a comfortable 3-1 victory over Banfield, the leadership of the red-and-white band began to move to find his replacement, with Coudet as one of the targets. According to his representative Christian Bragarnik, both are “awaiting” his arrival, assuring that he received the call today and admitting he thought: “finally, they are calling me.” Describing himself as a “transparent” person, Bragarnik clarified what the coach had mentioned in a previous press conference, where he stated he had not received any contact from River, by detailing that the conversation took place today, subsequent to Gallardo's departure. In what he considered a “cautious” communication, the representative spoke with president Stefano Di Carlo and the directors Enzo Francescoli and Leonardo Ponzio, who confirmed to Coudet that he is one of the candidates. To temper the situation, Bragarnik hinted that the negotiation stage still remains, commenting that he will first speak with the coach and the authorities of Alavés, and detailing that “there are a bunch of things to solve, on the sporting and economic front” and that, although he has a contract until June in Spain, no contract is irrenounceable, either by reaching an agreement or by paying a compensation. Eduardo Coudet is under contract with Alavés, a team that is fourteenth in LaLiga with 27 points after 26 matchdays, three points from the relegation zone. Since his arrival, midway through last season, the “Chacho” has played 55 matches, winning 17, drawing the same amount, and losing on 21 occasions, with a 41% effectiveness. In the rest of his career, which began in 2015 with a memorable Rosario Central team, Coudet briefly managed Tijuana of Mexico and had a memorable spell at Racing between 2017 and 2020, which left him his first two titles: the 2018/19 Superliga and the 2019 Champions Trophy. His career continued at Internacional de Porto Alegre, in two spells, three seasons at Celta de Vigo and less than a year at Atlético Mineiro of Brazil, where he lifted the state Minas Gerais championship.
