Argentine Primera División: Three Coaches Vie for Glory
This Sunday, the Argentine Primera División champion will be crowned, a moment brimming with anticipation and uncertainty. Three highly experienced coaches are on the cusp of their first Argentine league title, each with a unique path to this pivotal moment. The victor will claim the championship, but all three deserve recognition for their contributions, leading their teams to the final stages of the competition and securing spots in the prestigious 2025 Copa Libertadores. The spotlight shines on Gustavo quinteros, Frank Dario Kudelka, and Alexander Medina, the managers of Vélez, Huracán, and Talleres, respectively.
Gustavo Quinteros: A Veteran’s Pursuit
Hailing from Cafferata, Santa Fe, the 59-year-old Quinteros embarked on his coaching career in 1999 with argentinos Juniors’ youth team. After a brief stint as first-team coach in 2003, he navigated the challenging world of Argentine lower leagues, managing teams like Central Córdoba de Rosario before venturing internationally. His journey took him thru Bolivia, where he gained citizenship and international experience, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.He also served as manager for the Bolivian and Ecuadorian national teams, and led prominent clubs like Catholic University and Colo-Colo in Chile.Over nearly two decades, he amassed an impressive record, winning 12 championships across three countries: four in Bolivia, two in Ecuador, and six in Chile.
since January, Quinteros has led Vélez. He’s come agonizingly close to a national title twice this year: first, in a penalty shootout loss to Estudiantes de La Plata in the League Cup final on May 5th, and again recently, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Central Córdoba in the Argentine Cup. “My teams try to play connected football, play a key role in any situation, at home or away,” he stated upon joining Vélez. This Sunday, he aims to etch his name in Vélez sarsfield’s history at the José Amalfitani Stadium.
Frank Dario Kudelka: A Seasoned Contender
Kudelka, a 63-year-old coach who never played professionally, boasts extensive experience in Argentine football. He’s currently managing Huracán for the third time in his career, aiming for his first league title. Born in Freyre, Córdoba, he came close in the 2014 Argentine Cup, guiding his team to the final stages before resigning in October and handing the reins to Néstor Apuzzo, who ultimately led the team to victory. His career has spanned various levels of Argentine football, including stints in the Ascenso with clubs like Gimnasia y Esgrima de Ciudadela, Boca Unidos, and Instituto. He made his mark in Primera with Unión de Santa Fe in 2001, establishing himself as a force in elite Argentine football.his journey also includes a significant role in Talleres’ promotion to the top division in 2015.
The upcoming match represents a culmination of years of dedication and perseverance for these three coaches, each with a unique story and a shared ambition: to lift the coveted Argentine Primera División trophy.
Argentine League Title race: Three Coaches Vie for Glory
The Argentine Professional League title is on the line, and the race is heating up. Three coaches—each with a distinct style and impressive track record—are vying for the championship, a victory that woudl etch their names into Argentine football history.Among them is Alexander Medina, a uruguayan manager poised to make history.
Juan Pablo Kudelka, a veteran coach known for his “old-school” approach, embodies ”work, motivation, and order,” as he himself has described his coaching philosophy. his journey to this point has been remarkable. “Talleres was active, at that time, in Argentine A, which meant he had to move up two divisions to A,” he recalls, highlighting his climb through the ranks. His dedication is evident in his unwavering commitment to the game. “Football is a game, it’s sport, it’s business, it’s marketing, it’s theatre,” he once stated. “I’m not going to lose the meaning of how I play,I feel that football must be won in the front goal,” he added,emphasizing his offensive style.
Gustavo Quinteros, another seasoned coach, also brings a wealth of experience to the competition. His tactical acumen and leadership will undoubtedly be key factors in the title race.
Alexander Medina: A Rising star from Uruguay
Alexander Medina, nicknamed “Cacique,” represents a new generation of Argentine football managers.At 46, he’s the youngest of the three contenders. Hailing from Salto, Uruguay, his career trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric. “A person from Salto, uruguay, took over in June 2016 in the Third Division of Nacional de montevideo,” marking the beginning of his impressive ascent. His time at Talleres was particularly successful, culminating in a third-place finish in Primera and a run to the Argentine Cup final. “He qualified for the ’22 Libertadores and broke the record for defeating all the major teams in the same season,” a testament to his tactical prowess and team’s resilience. His coaching philosophy is distinctly modern. “Our style is characterized by being a football of suggestion rather then reaction,” he explains. “We try to control the ball, of playing more time in the competitive field than in yourself. Try to create passes, link up on the wings and finish inside,” he detailed his approach.
A victory for Medina would be historic. He would become onyl the third Uruguayan coach to win a top-flight Argentine title, following in the footsteps of Enrique Sobral (1940) and Oscar Washington Tabárez (Apertura ’92), both with Boca Juniors. Even more significantly, he would be the first Uruguayan-born coach to achieve this feat, as Sobral and Tabárez were both born in Montevideo, while Medina hails from Salto.
The contrast in coaching styles is striking. While Quinteros and kudelka represent a more traditional approach, Medina’s modern tactics, emphasizing possession and attacking fluidity, offer a compelling choice.One of these three will claim the Professional League title, marking a significant milestone in their careers and Argentine football history.
