After Eduardo Coudet's resignation, the former captain took over as interim and has already confirmed all his collaborators for the professional team
This confirms the complete coaching staff with which the Rosario native will face this new stage. The appointment came unexpectedly, as just four months ago Ponzio had ruled out the possibility of taking on the role of head coach.
Leonardo Ponzio took charge of the River Plate squad after Eduardo Coudet's resignation and has already assembled his complete coaching staff. The former captain will lead the morning practice at River Camp this Friday, two days before the visit to Banfield that will mark the formal beginning of his interim period.
In the press conference where Chacho's departure was announced, Stéfano Di Carlo confirmed that Marcelo Escudero will be one of the field assistants. Escudero had already held a similar role at the club after Marcelo Gallardo's departure and now joins León's team.
The other field assistant will be Cristian Manfredi, who had been performing that same function in the Reserve since January of last year. Manfredi has a background that includes coaching River's U-17 team in 2010, where he became champion and worked with players like Sebastián Driussi. He also served as an assistant coach at San Lorenzo, Instituto, Guaraní, and Palestino.
The only member remaining from the previous cycle is Marcelo Barovero, who will continue as the goalkeeping coach. Trapito joined the club in January of this year alongside Gallardo, and his status as a reference allowed him to stay despite the changes on the bench.
For the physical area, Ponzio will add Cristian Segura and Nicolás Paolorossi. Both were already working in Núñez with the youth categories: Segura in the Reserve and Paolorossi in the youth teams. They will now take charge of the professional squad.
The club's management contemplates that the former captain and his team will remain in charge at least until December. However, the possibility of offering them a contract for all of 2027 is not ruled out if the results are favorable.
Ponzio assumed the position on an interim basis and has already begun working with the squad. This Friday's practice at River Camp will be the first formal session with all the collaborators present and will confirm the start of a phase that the club hopes to consolidate in the short term.
León will have a group of collaborators with knowledge of the club and the lower categories by his side, which will allow him to approach daily work with some continuity. Continuity until the end of the year is the baseline scenario that management is considering, always subject to how the upcoming matches develop.
With Escudero and Manfredi on the field, Barovero with the goalkeepers, and Segura alongside Paolorossi in physical preparation, Ponzio already has the team assembled to face the challenge that came to him unexpectedly. The official debut as interim coach will come on Sunday against Banfield.
