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'He is an idol' - Gallardo bids farewell to River Plate after 3-1 victory over Banfield in Buenos Aires

'He is an idol' - Gallardo bids farewell to River Plate after 3-1 victory over Banfield in Buenos Aires

"Marcelo Gallardo's time in charge of Club Atletico River Plate came to an end on Thursday, with a 3-1 victory over Club Atletico Banfield at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. This match marked his official departure after he announced his decision to leave the club. Footage shows fans wearing red and white jerseys, carrying photographs of coach Marcelo Gallardo and flags, as well as shirts with messages of gratitude, accompanied by drum music. The coach publicly announced his decision to step down as River's head coach on Monday, prompting a spontaneous mobilisation of supporters who wanted to accompany him in his final match. "El Muneco is the guy who changed our lives. He made us win the Clasicos and made us unbeaten. "I travelled all over Argentina and South America following River because of him. He is everything to us," said Agustin. For many supporters, Gallardo's figure transcends any recent result. They highlighted not only his presence and leadership on the field but also his closeness to the fans. "He is a reference. He is an idol. Everything he achieved at River is immense. He reminds me of my family. He will remain forever in our hearts and eternal thanks," shared Yoel. From the opening minutes, River displayed an attacking style and scored through Lucas Martinez Quarta. He celebrated his goal with the coach on the sidelines. Banfield equalised with a goal, but Sebastian Driussi and Joaquin Freitas sealed the win, ending the team's losing streak. With the final whistle, the stadium erupted in applause for Gallardo, officially marking the end of one of the most significant chapters in River's history. Marcelo Gallardo became the head coach of Club Atletico River Plate in 2014 after spending time at Nacional de Montevideo. During his tenure from 2014 to 2022, he won numerous domestic and international titles, including the Copa Libertadores in 2015 and 2018, the Copa Sudamericana, and several national cups. His victory in the 2018 Madrid final is one of the most significant achievements for the club and Argentine football."