Ricardo Gareca

Football player infobox
playername = Ricardo Gareca


fullname = Ricardo Alberto Gareca
height =
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1958|2|10
cityofbirth = Tapiales
countryofbirth = Argentina
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Striker
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1978-1980
1981
1981-1984
1985
1985-1988
1989-1992
1993-1994
clubs = Boca Juniors
Sarmiento
Boca Juniors
River Plate
América de Cali
Vélez Sársfield
Independiente
caps(goals) = 16 (3)
33 (13)
114 (61)
12 (4)
53 (31)
118 (24)
41 (11)
nationalyears = 1981-1986
nationalteam = Argentina
nationalcaps(goals) = 20 (5)
pcupdate = 3 November 2007
manageryears = 1996-1997
1997
1997-2000
2000
2001
2002
2003
2005
2006
2006
2007-present
managerclubs = Talleres
Independiente
Talleres
Colón de Santa Fe
Talleres
Quilmes
Argentinos Juniors
América de Cali
Independiente Santa Fe
Talleres
Universitario de Deportes

Ricardo Alberto "Tigre" Gareca (born February 10 1958 in Taipales, Buenos Aires Province) is an Argentine football manager and former player. Gareca who was nicknamed "El Tigre" (the tiger) played for all of the big three clubs in Argentina and for the Argentina national football team. As july of 2008 he has been working as the manager of Universitario de Deportes in Peru and won the Torneo Apertura 2008 title.

Gareca started his professional career in 1978 with Boca Juniors, he only played 16 games in his first three years with the club. In 1981 he was loaned out to Club Atlético Sarmiento for the 1981 Metropolitano, but he returned to Boca for the Nacional where he played alongside Diego Maradona with a contribution of 8 goals.

Gareca made his debut for the Argentina national team in 1981 against Poland, he went on to win 20 caps for his country, scoring 5 goals [ [http://www.rsssf.com/players/arg-players-6498.html rsssf: Argentina international footballers] ] .

In 1985 Gareca earned the eternal hatred of many Boca fans by transferring directly to their fiercest rivals River Plate with Oscar Ruggeri. unlike Ruggeri his time with River was limited, he joined América de Cali in Colombia later in 1985. Gareca won two league titles with América in 1985 and 1986. He also had the misfortune of being on the losing side of the Copa Libertadores final, three times in succession (1985, 1986 &1987).

In 1989 Gareca returned to Argentina where he played with Vélez Sársfield until 1992. In 1993 he joined Club Atlético Independiente for the last few years of his career, making him one of a select band of players to have played for the three most successful teams in Argentine football.

Titles as a player

Managerial career

Gareca started his managerial career with Talleres in 1996. In 1997 he left the club to take over at Independiente de Avellaneda but results were not forthcoming and he returned to Talleres later that year. Gareca led Talleres to the Argentine 2nd division championship in 1997-1998, which earned them promotion to the Argentine Primera. In 1999 he led them to their first major title the Copa CONMEBOL, making them the first team from outside Buenos Aires to win an international competition.In 2000 Gareca joined Colón de Santa Fe but soon returned to Talleres for a 3rd spell with the club.

In 2002 "El Tigre" took over at Quilmes in the 2nd division, and then in 2003 he became manager of Argentinos Juniors. Having led Argentinos to the brink of promotion, the club faced a playoff against Gareca's former team Quilmes, which they lost, missing out on promotion.

Gareca then teamed up with former team-mate Oscar Ruggeri in 2004 to work as his field assistant at Elche in Spain. In 2005 he became manager of his former club América de Cali followed by a spell in charge of Independiente Santa Fe in Colombia.

In 2006 he returned for a fourth spell with Talleres but couldn't prevent them from struggling in the Argentine 2nd division. In October 2007 he became the manager of Universitario de Deportes and in July 2008 he lead the team to the Torneo Apertura title.

Titles as a manager

References