The Argentine coach began his tenure with the Blues after a defeat in the summer friendlies against Coquimbo Unido, a result that set the tone for a rebuilding phase.
Mauricio Pellegrino was introduced as the new manager of the University of Chile on December 14, stepping in to lead a project aimed at restoring the club to prominence after several seasons haunted by the threat of relegation. The Córdoba-born tactician arrived at the Blue Sports Center to replace the interim coach Sebastián Miranda following Diego López’s departure due to a string of disappointing results. Pellegrino arrived with experience from Vélez Sarsfield, a stint cut short in March 2022 after a lean run that produced just one win in seven matches during the final stretch of the campaign.
His professional journey includes a stint alongside Rafael Benítez as an assistant at Liverpool and Inter Milan. He began his head coaching career in 2012 with Valencia, stepping in to replace Unai Emery. Despite a promising group of players and a Champions League knockout stage appearance the next season, the role did not endure. Since then, Pellegrino has managed Estudiantes de La Plata, Independiente, Deportivo Alavés, Southampton, Leganés, and Fortín. At Fortín, he posted a 56 percent win rate across 78 games, recording 37 victories, 21 draws, and 20 losses. He has yet to lift a major trophy as a head coach.
The first test with his new club came in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Real San Joaquín on December 23, as part of a pre-season training block. Both teams played two 60-minute halves, with the U claiming clear wins in the two segments. The next matches against Audax Italiano were arranged as two 70-minute fixtures as part of the season preparation, finishing with a 2-3 aggregate result. The official debut arrived in the Coquimbo Summer Cup 2023, where the team fell 2-0 to El Pirata at Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso. The schedule then included a trip north to face Rosario Central, a fixture aimed at sharpening form ahead of a showdown with Talleres at Santa Laura. Pellegrino’s competitive bow for the league was set for Monday, January 23, as the team prepared to host Huachipato at an as yet undecided venue, matching the club’s broader pre-season logistics.
In TARGET, readers can examine Pellegrino’s numbers and the bank of the University of Chile, highlighting the coach’s approach and the club’s evolving strategy as the season approaches kickoff.
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