Crisis at Independiente: who are the candidates for head coach after Vaccari's resignation

Independiente is going through an alarming situation. The 1-0 defeat against Banfield in Avellaneda marked the end of Julio Vaccari's tenure, who submitted his resignation after a semester that included the elimination from Copa Sudamericana, Copa Argentina, and last place in the Torneo Apertura standings after seven rounds.

In this context, with strong demands from fans for early elections, the board led by Néstor Grindetti has begun the search for a new coach. Until a decision is made, Carlos Matheu, current Reserve team coach and former club defender, will serve as interim manager starting Monday in Villa Domínico.

The leading candidates

Among the list of names, two stand out above the rest. Gustavo Quinteros, league champion with Vélez in 2024, is the one who generates the most consensus within the Board of Directors. He is currently a free agent after his stint at Gremio, although his high salary and the club's delicate institutional situation could become obstacles.

He is joined by Luis Zubeldía, who, despite his past at Racing, has the approval of some board members due to his youth, his ability to develop young players, and the experience he has gained in international tournaments. The former Lanús coach recently managed São Paulo and is also being monitored by some South American national teams ahead of the 2030 World Cup qualifiers.

The other candidates

In addition to Quinteros and Zubeldía, there are two more names on the list. One of them is the duo Favio Orsi–Sergio Gómez, champions with Platense in the 2025 Torneo Apertura, who represent a more economical and accessible option for the club in this critical context. With experience at Godoy Cruz and an extensive track record in the lower divisions, they are emerging as a concrete possibility.

The other name is Jorge Almirón, who had a first spell at Independiente in 2014 after promotion from B Nacional. His tenure produced an irregular record and ended in 2015, but since he is a free agent after leaving Colo-Colo, he is being considered again despite his most recent experiences at San Lorenzo, Lanús, and Boca not being positive.

This way, Independiente is facing a key process amid the crisis, with the urgent need to appoint its next head coach in an attempt to redirect a semester that, so far, has been disastrous.