Overview
- After taking the role, Longoria joined River’s traveling party to São Paulo for the Copa Sudamericana match against Red Bull Bragantino to begin working with coach Eduardo Coudet and the squad.
- He will report to president Stefano Di Carlo and Enzo Francescoli and oversee the first team, the academy, scouting, contract management, performance analysis, and player development.
- River presents the move as the start of a medium- to long-term modernization that brings a European structure and greater use of data tools to find and develop talent.
- The 39-year-old Spaniard left the presidency of Olympique de Marseille in March 2026 and earlier led global scouting at Juventus, served as Valencia’s sporting director, and began as a Newcastle scout.
- Club leaders sought this profile after criticism of recent signings and want tighter links between youth and the senior team and broader international networks, with the added challenge of adapting his methods to South American competition.