The coach of Mexico, 45 years old, already has an Olympic medal and a Gold Cup under his belt; the second youngest is the world champion, Lionel Scaloni
The Copa America 2024 will bring together in the United States the ten nations that make up the South American Soccer Confederation (Conmebol) and the top six teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean (Concacaf), in a special edition of the oldest national team competition in the world, which will be held for the second time on North American soil, from June 20 to July 14.
Within the deck of the 16 technicians who will seek continental glory, stands out Argentina with almost half of the benches occupied (7), followed by both Brazil, Spain and USA with the contribution of two coaches per country, as well as a Mexican, Icelandic and Uruguayan.
The average age of the technicians is 56 years, with the Argentine Jorge Fossati as the oldest veteran (71 years) and the Mexican Jaime Lozano located at the opposite end of the list (45 years).
Dorival Junior | 62 years | Brazilian
The career of the Brazilian coach dates back to 2002 with Ferroviária and has 25 processes in 20 different teams, all in Brazil and the majority in the First Division, although with passage through the second and third categories alternating until 2009.
The record of the man born in Araraquara, on April 25, 1962, consists of a Serie B title with Vasco da Gama (2009), as well as three Cups of Brazil, with Santos (2010), Flamengo (2022) and Sao Paulo (2023). At the international level he has a South American Cup Winners’ Cup with Inter de Porto Alegre (2011) and Copa Libertadores with Flamengo (2022).
Lionel Scaloni | 46 years | Argentinian
The coach only coached the Albiceleste U-20 team (2018) before taking the position as interim in the senior team, in which he was later ratified as permanent, to fight for the America Cup 2019 and 2021, after positive results in six friendly duels, against Guatemala, Colombia, Iraq, Brazil and Mexico (2).
In his brilliant career with the Albiceleste, the second youngest coach in the summer tournament has a track record made up of a America Cup (2021), Conmebol-UEFA Champions Cup (2022) and World Cup (2022).
Marcelo Bielsa | 68 years | Argentinian
The veteran coach began his career on the bench in 1990. He has experience in clubs thanks to Newell’s Old Boys (1990-92), Atlas (1993-95), América (1995-96), Vélez Sarsfield (1997-98), Espanyol (1998-99), Athletic Club (2011-13), Marseille (2014-16), Lille (2017-18), and Leeds United (2018-22). At international level, Bielsa has coached the national team Argentina (1998-2004) and Chili (2007-11), in addition to being the current manager of the Uruguayan team in the U-23 category.
The ‘Loco’ record consists of two Argentine leagues with Newell’s (1990-91 and Clausura 1992), as well as another with Vélez (Clausura 1998); in England, an EFL Championship with Leeds United (2019-20) and the gold medal at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games with Albieleste.
Gregg Berhalter | 50 years | United States
The coach born in New Jersey began his adventure on the bench in Sweden with Hammarby IF (2011-2013) and later arrived at Columbus Crew (2013-18), a team with which he played 193 duels and left a record of 74 wins, 49 draws and 70 defeats (46.8% performance).
After the qualifiers for Russia 2018, in which USA was left out of the tournament, Berhalter took the position as coach and, in his first cycle, he was champion of the Nations League (2019-20) and Gold Cup (2021). After Qatar 2022 he terminated his contract, but returned a semester later, with a new title in the Nations League (2023-24).
Nestor Lorenzo | 58 years | Argentinian
The Argentine’s career is closely linked to his compatriot José Pekerman, as he served as his assistant in the Argentina national team (2000-02, 2004-06), Toluca (2007-08), Tigres (2009) and the Colombian team (2012 -18). The only position as absolute coach that he has held is that of Melgar (2021-22).
In his first big opportunity, in Peruvian soccer, he won the Apertura 2022 and laid the foundations for the team that qualified to the semifinals of the Copa Sudamericana during the same year. Lorenzo’s successes impressed and he was chosen as Reinaldo Rueda’s replacement to command Colombiawhich remains undefeated in the Conmebol qualifier after six dates.
Felix Sanchez | 48 years | Spanish
The Catalan trained as a coach in FC Barcelona’s youth football team (1996-06), then moved to Qatar to work with local youth talent and rose to the senior bench of the Asian team to host the 2022 World Cup, then of his time in the lower ranks of the selected team.
The Barcelonan’s record consists only of the Asian Cup with Qatar 2019, the first for the national team corresponding to said tournament.
Jaime Lozano | 45 years | Mexican
The coach began his walk with the Mexican team acting as interim after the departure of Diego Cocca and ratified in office after winning the 2023 Gold Cup.
His previous experience consists of time in clubs with Querétaro (2017) and Necaxa (2022), as well as at the international level with the Mexican Under-23 team that won the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, in addition to the Games Pan American Games (2023).
Jesse Marsch | 50 years | United States
The American’s career as an absolute coach began with Montreal Impact (2012) and continued in American soccer with New York Red Bulls (2015-2018), to later be Ralf Rangnick’s assistant at RB Leipzig (2018-19) and resume the position total at RB Salzburg (2019-21), RB Leipzig (2021) and Leeds United (2022-23).
As a coach, Marsch’s most successful stint to date has been with Salzburg, as he won two Bundesliga titles in Austria and two cup titles during his time with the team.
Daniel Garnero | 55 years | Argentinian
The current Paraguayan coach has spent time on Argentine benches with Arsenal (2008-09), Independiente (2010-11), San Martín (2010-12; 2013-14), Banfield (2012-13), Independiente Rivadavia (2014-15) , as well as in local football with Sol de América (2015-16), Guaraní (2016-2017), Olimpia (2018-2020) and Libertad (2021-2023).
Garnero has eight league titles in Paraguayan soccer: one with Guaraní (Clausura 2016), four with Olimpia (Apertura 2018, Clausura 2019, Apertura 2019, Clausura 2019) and three more with Libertad (Apertura 2021, 2022 and 2023).
Ricardo Gareca | 66 years | Argentinian
In his extensive career, which began in 1994, the veteran coach has coached teams such as Independiente, Talleres, Colón, Argentinos Juniors and Vélez Sarsfield in his local football, while he has also worked in Colombia with América de Cali, Independiente de Santa Fe, in Peru He has done the same with Universitario and in Brazil with Palmeiras.
In his personal showcases, Gareca boasts a Primera B title with Talleres (1998) and one in the Conmebol Cup (1999), in addition to one in Peruvian soccer with Universitario (Apertura 2008), and four in the Argentine league with Vélez Sarsfield ( Closing 2009, Closing 2011, Initial 2012, and 2013).
Fernando Batista | 53 years | Argentinian
In his career as a ‘Bocha’ coach he has focused on youth development, with Argentinos Juniors, as well as the Armenian national team and Argentina in his career. He joined the Venezuela team as José Pekerman’s assistant and took over when the Argentine stepped down in 2023.
His record as a coach consists of a Pan-American gold with the Albiceleste U-23 (2019), in addition to the South American Pre-Olympic with the same team (2020).
Jorge Fossati | 71 years | Urugayo
The coach started on the bench in 1993 and has dedicated himself to being a globetrotter thanks to football, passing through countries like Paraguay, Argentina, Ecuador BrazilQatar, Saudi Arabia and Peru.
His achievements consist of a league title in Uruguay with Peñarol (1996), as well as in Ecuador with Quito (2003), as well as another in Paraguay with Cerro Porteño (Apertrua 2012) and Peru with Universitario (2023). It is worth mentioning that, during his time at Al Sadd, he won the Crown Prince Cup (2006, 2007), the league (2006-07), Qatar Emir Cup (2006-07) and Sheikh Jassem Cup (2007). .
Thomas Christiansen | 51 years | Spanish
At the end of 2014, the Spanish-Danish coach began his career in Cyprus with AEK Larnaca and two seasons later he joined the ranks of APOEL Nicosia (2016-17). Subsequently, he was signed by Leeds United (2017-18) and Union Saint-Gilloise (2019-20). He has served as Panama’s coach since mid-2020.
Christiansen’s only endorsement in his trophy case is the Cyprus First Division (2016-17) that he won with the team from the Cypriot capital.
Heimir Hallgrímsson | 57 years | Icelandic
The European coach, who also works as an active dentist, alternated his profession with being both a footballer and a coach until 1999, when his life took a turn because he was invited to be the coach of ÍBV Vestmannæyjar (1999-2011); The next step in his career was on the bench of the Iceland national team (2013-18) and later he coached Al-Arabi (2018-21).
Gustavo Alfaro | 61 years | Argentinian
With an extensive past in club football since 1992, which dates back almost entirely to benches in Argentina, the experienced coach has only left his homeland in 2009-10 to coach Al-Ahli, however, he only lasted twelve games in office. At the international level he also previously coached the Ecuador national team (2020-22).
His record at the domestic competition level contains a Primera B title with Olimpo (2001-02), as well as a First Division (Clausura 2012), Argentine Super Cup (2012) and Argentine Cup (2013) with Arsenal, in addition to another Super Cup and Cup with Boca Juniors (2018; 2019-20). At the international level he celebrated the Copa Sudamericana with Arsenal (2007).
Antônio Carlos Zago | 55 years | Brazilian
The Brazilian coach has developed most of his career within his country’s soccer, in teams such as Palmeiras, Sao Paulo and Santos; He also has experience in Japanese football and Bolivia.
His record as a coach is made up only of a First Division of Bolivia, in Apetura 2022, during his time in Bolivar, which left pleasant sensations thanks to the balance of 77 duels, 42 wins, 12 draws and 23 losses.
