Overview
- The Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol confirmed Gallardo as Ecuador’s new coach on Monday, and he will take charge immediately as the national team begins a new cycle.
- Gallardo’s first matches are set for an Asia tour during the extended FIFA window with fixtures in Suwon on Sept. 24 and Yokohama on Oct. 1 and a closing match on Oct. 5 against Panama or New Zealand.
- FEF and media reports describe the hiring as a long-term, four-year project focused on Copa América 2028 and the 2030 World Cup while details of the contract and salary remain unconfirmed by the federation.
- Gallardo is assembling a technical staff that reportedly includes assistants Hernán Buján and Alejandro Albornoz, fitness coaches Pablo Dolce and Diego Gamalero, and analyst Nahuel Hidalgo, but longtime deputy Matías Biscay has declined to join for personal reasons.
- The appointment pairs Gallardo’s club record with a talented Ecuador squad led by players such as Moisés Caicedo and Piero Hincapié, and his early selections and tactical adjustments in the upcoming friendlies will shape public expectations for the new project.