Unexpected: Ariel Holan is no longer Rosario Central's coach

Ariel Holan will not remain in charge of Rosario Central in 2026. The announcement, surprising from every angle, came through a brief statement in which the club reported that both parties had decided not to renew the contract that was set to expire on December 31. The relationship, they emphasized, ended "on good terms," although behind the formality, deep differences in the sports project were exposed.

The coach's tenure, which began in November 2024, leaves indisputable numbers: 42 matches, 22 victories, 13 draws, only seven defeats, 48 goals for, and 29 against. In 2025, Central became the best team in the country and was proclaimed league champion after finishing at the top of the Annual Table, a title that was not without controversy, but marked a high point in the Holan era.

Precisely because of that performance, the departure took everyone by surprise. With Ángel Di María waiting to begin his season at the club and the 2026 Copa Libertadores as the immediate challenge, nothing suggested that the coach would leave his position. However, the negotiation for the renewal faced obstacles from the start: players whose contracts were expiring without decisions about their continuity and a sports agenda for the coming year that failed to reach consensus.

Holan proposed a deep restructuring of the squad, even with the departure of important names, and an ambitious transfer market that included several signings. The management, with a different view regarding timing and resources, did not fully support that plan. The lack of agreement ultimately tipped the balance.

"Coach, thank you for the title, your name is now part of Central's history. The club's doors will remain open to you forever," the club's statement concluded. Meanwhile, the Rosario management unexpectedly begins the search for a new coach to defend the championship and face the continental challenge ahead.