The statue, which pays homage to the doll and recalls the historic victory in Madrid, was presented after a long wait.
No one can claim that the culmination of the eight and a half year cycle of Marcelo Gallardo in River it happened on December 9, 2018, with the victory against Boca in Madrid to win the Copa Libertadores that year. That night, the doll forever earned a place in the greatest Millionaire story, perhaps on the same level as Ángel Labruna, historically considered the greatest idol in the history of the Núñez club.
For this reason, a few months after the Bernabéu performance, a group of fans, accompanied by leaders, decided to immortalize the coach with an image that will be placed next to that of the Uglyat the entrance of the Monumental.
Now without the DT in office following its late 2022 departure, the postponed inauguration has a confirmed date, coinciding with the institution’s 122nd anniversary.
Neither Labruna nor Alonso: Gallardo, the greatest idol in River history
HOW MUCH IS THE STATUE AND HOW MUCH DOES IT WEIGH
@DrCarlosTrillo
The decision was finally made at the end of March 2019 at a meeting of several groups in which Carlos Trillo, leader and promoter of the idea, announced the project to the partners, which changed over time and became much more ambitious. : the original idea was a two-meter high bronze sculpture depicting Gallardo holding the Copa Libertadores.
However, the key fundraising campaign started at that time was so successful that it was decided to measure as much as possible 7 meters and weighs 6.5 tons, one of which matches the trophy obtained against Xeneize. The responsible sculptor was Mercedes Savall.
WHEN WAS IT SET UP?
It was originally planned that the statue would be inaugurated on December 9, 2019, on the first anniversary of the final in Madrid. But the changed plans regarding the dimensions prevented it from being carried out and the arrival of the pandemic did nothing but slow down progress. The tasks continued and currently the structure is completed and the base is already installed near the Antonio Vespucio Liberti.
Indeed an attempt was made to present it to society on 9/12 2021 but again they have not given the times as the club’s board of directors just gave the go-ahead for the location of the venue ten days before the start work date: “The sculpture needs some kind of skeleton with double T iron bars to be welded, and then comes the cement. Proper curing of the concrete takes weeks of curing, until at least 70% of the project resistance is reached” , explained the leader behind the project.
After that second postponement, the fans voted in a Twitter poll for the inauguration of the work on May 25, 2022, the day the club turned 121, but new problems prevented that: according to Trillo, in early June on Radio La Red , part of the image had to be redone to adjust the proportions, especially on the face.
And although everything was organized for the presentation to take place on December 9, 2022, already in the place where it will remain for eternity, Muñe’s decision not to continue as coach of the team led to another delay in the inauguration, which eventually was scheduled for May 25, 2023, the day the club turns 122. However, it couldn’t either: the weather forecast predicted a stormy day in Buenos Aires, so the organizers decided to postpone the event again, which eventually happened this Saturday, May 27.
The event started at 4:00 PM. on the sidewalk of Avenida Figueroa Alcorta, next to the internal parking. There was a stage and Gallardo was present along with several guests, former teammates from his time as a player and also some of the players who were his coaches in the unforgettable final in Madrid.
The inauguration can be seen live via the official River Plate account on YouTube.
THE WORDS OF MARCELO GALLARDO
“I feel privileged. A person who, even with some discomfort, what you do in all these years to realize this is something that life will not reach me. There are many people here whom I love you very much , who has accompanied me all my career, all my life. There is no possibility that anyone can say goodbye to this wonderful club, so what I wanted to express, with an emotion that touches me very deeply, is gratitude to all the people who guided me on this path. There are many people I am grateful to, starting with my family, continuing with colleagues, great glory of this institution. This club is great for its history, but also for the glory we have had to live and to share. I want to thank the players, the players who have accompanied me through this process. Everyone, each of the players. We have achieved something very important that goes beyond the demands that we have made. I believe that the question is the opportunity of growth and this club will not stop growing. I am blessed to be part of the history of this club.
I want to thank my friends and the people on my coaching staff, without whom I could be nothing. So thank you. Thanks again to the players for making me a better person. To the managers who have given me the opportunity to work completely naturally, I have felt very comfortable and I have tried to be demanding so as not to disappoint them.
And finally I want to close, because honestly you have already made this tribute possible. You, the fans. Thank you with all my heart. Words are not enough to thank you, I love you very much, I will always love you. Thank you for everything we’ve been through all these years. I grew up in this club and I think I will die in this club. I am privileged. Thank you everyone, I love you.”
Source: Goal