The boom in Chile, a branch of Argentine football: why almost 100 players and 7 coaches chose to cross the mountain range

The one from Chilean football It is an attractive market for Argentines. For years, dozens of players and coaches have chosen to emigrate beyond the mountain range. But what happens in 2024 is a kind of invasion, a boom phenomenal that make them be 91 footballers born in Argentina -or with nationalities- who play in the First Division of Chile. An important fact: the championship has 16 teams; That is, the average is 5.5 Argentines per club. And more: there are 7 buses.

According to the specialized site Transfer market, As of 2023, 77 Argentines have played in Chile; in 2022, 76; in 2021 69 and in 2020 80. In 1994, the year in which they shone Alberto Acosta and Néstor Gorosito at the Catholic Universitythere were 16 footballers from our country on Chilean soil.

Chile’s economic stability is what makes the difference, although it is not the only thing. In 2023, annual inflation in the neighboring country was 3.9%. and this generates tranquility in the players and coaches.

At the beginning of this year a change was made to the tournament regulations: the number of foreigners admitted increased from 5 to 6, in addition to the fact that only 5 can sign a form to come out and play.

The preference for Argentine coaches also facilitates the arrival of footballers due to their knowledge and adaptability. The living conditions in Chile are similar to those of Argentina and that is why players do not undergo acclimatization.

There are other factors, of course. Representative Cristian Bragarnik has a strong influence on La Calera Union and this is why it is not surprising that there are 10 Argentinians who make up the squad: Matías Ibáñez, Ezequiel Parnisari, Nicolás Ferreyra, Luciano Arnijas, Luciano Aued, Matías Muñoz, Axel Encinas, Gabriel Hauche, Emanuel Gigliotti and Franco Soldano. More: the coach is Manuel Fernandez. Other data: Calera will play the Copa Sudamericano.

“The Chilean one is a championship that has an internal market to grow. If you have a good championship in a second or third level team, you can go to a great team. Gustavo Álvarez became champion with Huachipato and the University of Chile went to look for him”, says Manuel Fernández Clarion. And he continues: “After this it’s a visible championship that takes you to other places, especially Mexico. That seduces the player and the coach. Furthermore, the organization is correct, the pitches are comfortable, the stadiums are beautiful. Everything works” . good “And finally there is the economy and proximity: Chile gives you the possibility of concluding contracts in dollars within an hour’s flight from Buenos Aires.”

“There is a situation that goes beyond football and that is the country. The uncertainty generates that very close alternative markets are competition. Before they were not. A normal salary for a club in Chile or Paraguay is between 10,000 and 12,000 dollars , that in Argentine football is difficult to match,” Bragarnik acknowledged to TyC Sports.

Italian Audax It is the other club in which Bragarnik is strong and has 8 Argentines in its roster: Oscar Ustari, Guillermo Ortíz, Germán Guiffrey, Emanuel Cecchini, Gonzalo Ríos, Alessandro Riep, Lautaro Palacios and Thomas Rodríguez (son of Leonardo, who knew how to play at the University of Chile in the 1990s).

The races will have to face Kingdom of Coquimbo in Group H of the South American, Gustavo Costas and his teammates will have to prepare to face 9 Argentinians: Salvador Sánchez, Elvis Hernandez, Bruno Cabrera, Alejandro Camargo, Luciano Cabral, Dylan Glaby, Jonathan Raccio, Andrés Chávez and Nicolás Johansen.

Colo Colo is directed by Jorge Almiron and is part of Group A of the Copa Libertadores. Fernando de Paul, Emiliano Amor, Ramiro González Hernández, Leonardo Gil, Matías Moya and Leandro Benegas are the Argentines of the Cacique.

Huachipato will be a rival of Estudiantes in Group C e Javier Sanguinetti commands the destinies of the team. The squad is made up of: Imanol González, Renzo Malanca, Franco Vega, Sebastián Sáez and Julián Brea.

Pablo Vitamin Sanchez will be in front Palestinian in Group E and will be able to make use of César Rigamonti, Jonathan Benítez, Nicolás Linares, Pablo Palacio and Gonzalo Sosa.

The last of the Libertadores participants is Cobresalwho will face Talleres and has Leandro Requena, Franco Bechtholdt, Leandro Navarro, Gastón Lezcano, Franco García and Lucas Di Maio in its ranks.

Two of the country’s greats, Catholic University AND University of Chile, they also have Argentinians in the team. He has been running the U since January of this year Gustavo Álvarez and features Juan Pablo Gómez, Franco Calderón, Matías Zaldivia, Emmanuel Ojeda, Federico Mateos, Leandro Fernández and Luciano Pons. Meanwhile, Lucas Menossi, Agustín Farías, Joaquín Torres and Fernando Zampedri play for the Crusaders.

Emiliano Vecchio went through the back door of Racing and ended up inside Spanish Union share the squad with Diego Pulpo González and Franco Frías. Stranger was the departure of Brian Martínez, one of Independiente’s best in 2023. El Chaco signed with Everton be directed by Esteban Solari and accompany Rodrigo Contreras in the attack.

The surprising leader of the Chilean championship is Sports Iquiquewhich counts Daniel Sappa, Joaquín Novillo, Lázaro Romero and Enzo Hoyos among its ranks.

Nicolás Avellaneda, Marco Campagnaro, Marco Borgnino, Agustín Mulet and Cristián Insaurralde defend the jersey Copperloawhile Lautaro Pignata, Gabriel Graciani, Ismael Sosa and Emanuel Herrera do it for Ñublense. Furthermore, in the humble Copiapo Participants include Álvaro Cazula, Jorge Luna, Juan Jaime, Tobías Figueroa, Maximiliano Quinteros and Franco Torres.

O’Higgins from Rancagua is another of the protagonists of the tournament led by the coach Juan Manuel Azconzabal, also from the Bragarnik team. Nicolás Peranic, Leonel Mosevich, Juan Ignacio Díaz, Diego Buonanotte, Carlos Auzqui, Martín Sarrafiore and Octavio Bianchi.

“Chile has economic solidity and respect for private property. Furthermore, it is a market that allows second or third level footballers”, he explains Clarion Juan Cruz Oller, representative of the Auzqui striker. The agent opened an office in Santiago and recruited, among others, Colo Colo goalkeeper Eduardo Villanueva, Bastian Rocco and Ivan Morales, striker Sarmiento de Junín. “An average monthly salary in Chile can be around $8,000. And a good one can go up to $30,000,” Oller clarifies.

The SAD in Chile

Since 2006, sports joint-stock companies have been allowed in Chile. And little by little the clubs fall into the fascination of investors. Currently, of the 45 professional football clubs, 42 are clubs and only three are clubs: Cobresal, Curicó Unidos (Second Category) and Deportes Puerto Montt, the last two active in the second category.

Of those in the First Division, it is insisted, only Cobresal is not a SAD. “Starting from 2006 with the Companies Law, the Cobresal Club was transformed into a sports club, with this the board of directors is responsible for the Club and will have to answer for any eventuality with its personal assets”, they warn in their note. website.

The club in which Bragarnik is strong is Unión La Calera, whose 85.8% belongs to Andes Informaziones Deportivas SA of Ricardo Pini, Sebastian Pini and the aforementioned Bragarnik. Likewise, from Chile they warn that the footballer’s representative has its own voice in Audax Italiano, San Luis (Seconda) and Fernández Vial (Tercera).