Américo Gallego

Argentine football legend and championship-winning coach

Américo Rubén "El Tolo" Gallego (born 25 April 1955) is an Argentine football coach and former player. As a midfielder, he played 73 times for the Argentina national team during his playing career.

Quick Facts

Full name: Américo Rubén Gallego
Height: 1.70 m / 5 ft 7 in
Born: 25 April 1955
Birthplace: Morteros, Argentina
Position: Central Midfielder
Total caps: 442
Total goals: 35

Lore & Background

Gallego said he was taken to Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina at the age of 5 and played for Club Alianza Sport as a child. He made his debut with Newell's Old Boys at the age of 14. At the age of 19, Gallego debuted in the Argentine league in 1974 as a midfielder for Newell's Old Boys. After a rookie season in which he saw little action, he quickly made a name for himself and was given a starting spot and regular playing time during the 1975 season.

Gallego played for Argentina at the 1975 Pan American Games. After being part of the Argentina national team that won the 1978 FIFA World Cup, Gallego stayed on at Newell's for three more years before being transferred to River Plate. Gallego played at River until the end of his career. He played for the "Millonarios" for seven years before retiring at the conclusion of the 1987/88 season.

He is hailed as a legend at River, as he was the captain during the team's achieving their first Copa Libertadores, Intercontinental Cup and Copa Interamericana's in their rich history. Nicknamed "El Tolo," Gallego's career ended with a total of 440 Argentine league appearances and 35 goals in a span of 14 years.

Reader's Guide

After retirement, Gallego turned his attention towards coaching. In 1994 Gallego was chosen to manage his former team, River Plate. In his first tournament as head coach, his Millonarios went undefeated to win the championship. From 1995, he served as an assistant coach under Daniel Passarella for the three-year tenure.

After his experience with the national team, El Tolo returned to coach River Plate, with whom he won another championship in 2000. In 2002, he coached Independiente to a championship. In 2004, he returned to Newell's Old Boys and won a championship that same year. He became only the second coach ever to win the Argentine Primera championship with three different Argentine clubs.

After leaving Newell's, he chose CD Toluca in Mexico. Toluca won the Apertura 2005 championship, and he was named Best Coach of the championship. In 2007 Gallego resigned as coach for Toluca. He then took over as coach of Tigres UANL, but was sacked in February 2008.

In March 2009 he returned to Independiente and signed until June 2010, but did not win any championships nor renew his contract. In February 2011 he began a tenure in Colo-Colo of Chile, which finished in August of that same year.