- Reinaldo Merlo
Football player infobox
playername = Reinaldo Merlo
fullname = Reinaldo Carlos Merlo
height =
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1950|5|20
cityofbirth =Buenos Aires
countryofbirth =Argentina
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1969-1984
clubs = River Plate
caps(goals) = 526 (11)
manageryears = 1986-1987
1989-1990
1995
1998
1998-1999
1999
2000
2001-2002
2004-2005
2005-2006
2006-2007
2008-
managerclubs = Los Andes
River Plate
Bolívar
Deportivo Temuco
Chacarita Juniors
Atlético Nacional
Belgrano
Racing Club
Estudiantes
River Plate
Racing Club
Barcelona S.C.
pcupdate = August 2007Reinaldo Carlos Merlo (born
May 20 1950 inBuenos Aires ,Argentina ) is afootball (soccer) coach and former player.Playing career
Known as "Mostaza" (mustard) because of his off-blond hair [ [http://www.notasdefutbol.com/2007/03/02-mostaza-merlo-de-heroe-a-villano Notas de Futbol article] ] , Merlo played his entire career for
Club Atlético River Plate as adefensive midfielder . He was part of the midfield that conquered a string of championships under coachÁngel Labruna between 1975 and 1981: "Jota Jota", Merlo, Alonso.Merlo was, together with goalkeeper
Ubaldo Fillol and defenderDaniel Passarella , the backbone of that team. River, nonetheless, purchased several players to fill in Merlo's position, because he was considered a great defender—but a liability once the team got the ball. The list includes Ramiro Pérez, "Chamaco" Rodriguez, Della Savia, Cierra, Carranza, Pitarch,Uruguay an de los Santos, and Argentine greatAmérico Gallego , who ultimetely earned the No. 5 jersey. Before retirement, Merlo mentored an up-and-coming midfielder:Néstor Gorosito . Both Gallego and Gorosito have since met Merlo as rival coaches.Merlo made over 500 appearances for River, making him one of their all time greatest players, he won seven titles during his time at the club
Titles as a player
Managerial career
After the end of his playing career, Merlo studied for an official coach matriculation, and proceeded to train several smaller teams until offered the position of coach at River Plate in 1989, together with Alonso. Merlo and Alonso were dismissed in mid-season after new club president Davicce made good on an election promise to bring Passarella as coach; the team won the championship title, and fans gave Merlo credit for a big part of that success.
In the year 2001, Merlo did the almost-impossible and coached the team that ended a 35-year drought for Racing Club [ [http://www.elgrafico.com.ar/formaciones.php?id=7 El Grafico article] ] . His serenity and his insistence on taking things one match at a time earned him his nickname "paso a paso" (step by step), after the sentence he often told anxious fans and reporters [ [http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/suplementos/libero/10-1685-2004-09-19.html Pagina 12 article] ] .
When
Carlos Bilardo leftEstudiantes de La Plata in 2004, Merlo was offered the post of coach; the team advanced from relegation danger to the top positions, being a contender both in the 2004 "Apertura" and the 2005 "Clausura". Merlo recalls fondly that both his debut (in 1969) and his best goal were both against Estudiantes.In August 2005, Merlo resigned from his post in Estudiantes. A few weeks later,
Leonardo Astrada resigned as River Plate coach, and Merlo was brought in his place.In January 9 2006, following a dim campign in which River failed to contend for the 2005 "Apertura", Merlo resigned as River Plate coach, and Passarella was called to fill in. There is controversy about the way he left River Plate during that preseason of 2006. It is said that
Marcelo Gallardo told him that neither him nor his teammates agreed with "his project", and that led to many discussions that made Merlo quit the team, andMarcelo Gallardo is still blamed for Mostaza's sudden departure [ [http://elsiglodedurango.com.mx/archivo/87074.culpa-merlo-a-gallardo-por-su-renuncia-en-riv.siglo El Siglo Article] ] .ee also
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One club man References
External links
*es [http://www.futbolxxi.com/Tecnico.aspx?ID=230&SEOTecnico=Merlo+Reinaldo+Carlos Recent Argentine Primera statistics]
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