New Direction, Old Questions: Independiente’s Coaching Shuffle in 2023
One of the newly installed Red leadership’s first tasks was naming a central coach, a job that ended up going to someone who wasn’t part of anyone’s long-term plans. Independiente began the year with a sense of renewal: a refreshed leadership team vowing to clean up the club after the Moyano era, about a dozen new signings, and a commitment to Leandro Stillitano, Ariel Holan’s former assistant and a fan-favorite of the club. A hopeful victory in Córdoba on the opening match day seemed to promise calm, but that relief proved fleeting.
After eight rounds and with only one win beyond the victory over Talleres, the leadership and the head coach agreed to part ways. It created a real headache for president Fabián Doman and the club’s commission, who faced the dual challenge of finding the right person and trusting a squad that had yet to live up to the club’s historic legacy.
In GOAL, the story behind the search for a Red coach is told with the latest developments and what they might mean for the team’s future.
ARIEL HOLAN
Crusaders
Status: thanks, but no
Date: 2023-03-20
Minutes after Stillitano’s departure was confirmed, the name fans most gravitated toward was the last coach who left behind a trophy as memorable as the Copa Sudamericana, and who restored the team’s identity on the pitch. Yet the dream of seeing him return to the Libertadores de América had to wait, because after thanking the leadership for the poll he clarified that his current contract with Universidad Católica would run through December 31.
PABLO GUEDE
Status: As challenging as in December
Date: 2023-03-20
Guede was one of the strongest candidates in the prior search, admired by those who want Independiente to be a bold, attacking side again. He carried a long coaching pedigree across Chilean and Mexican football and had previous experience with Independiente in Argentina. The main hurdle remains the timing of strengthening the squad in June, a period that would require lifting several sizeable suspensions in the club’s finances—an obstacle not easily cleared given funding limits.
RICARDO ZIELINSKY
Getty
Status: he is free, but…
Date: 3/19/2023
On Sunday, March 19, news in Avellaneda drew attention to the Russian coach, who had recently made a name at Estudiantes before parting ways with Nacional following a rough points tally. Those who showed interest believed the moment called for a pragmatic approach with a team capable of earning points again. Yet resistance remained high, not only because of his coaching philosophy but also due to memories of his stint at Racing and the perception that his performance had been below expectations.
All discussions and rumors from that period underline a simple truth: Independiente needed a coach who could restore competitive vigor without compromising the club’s fiscal stability. The challenge wasn’t just about who could lead a matchday lineup but who could rebuild trust among players, fans, and the board. It was a period of testing ideas, pressures, and expectations as the club navigated the delicate balance between ambition and realism.
Source: GOAL