Abel Balbo, the relentless scorer who will make his first experience as a manager in Argentina: who is his point of reference and the rare feature he wants for Central Córdoba

20 years ago, Abel Balbo was synonymous with goals. It is true that she lived in the shadow of a diamond like Gabriel Omar Batistuta, but it was the perfect complement and was always characterized by taking advantage of those options presented to him within the arch. Now, even if for the younger ones it might be a little known name, the native of Santa Fe will disembark in Santiago del Estero to make his first experience as a coach, in the center of Córdoba, and together with Julio Lamas, recently retired from basketball after having been awarded all over the world.

Balbo lived a great moment in the 90s and his life had some peculiarities that make him a character worth knowing. Born 56 years ago in Empalme Villa Constitución, a town in the province of Santa Fe, he has traveled the world thanks to football and, after some almost unknown participations in the Italian promotion, he will have his great opportunity in the always challenging Argentina football.

Your arrival at the Railway will not happen alone, because it will accompany you Giulio Lama. The historic former basketball coach will be at his side and will also live his first experiences as a field assistant in the world of football. In fact, he was already on the Platense field this Tuesday after his next team’s game. The connection between the two to get to work together came after they were called to be part of a technical secretary at Newell’sif a candidate in the 2021 elections had won, which did not happen.

“Juan José Concina, candidate for president of Newell’s, met me to propose me as the club’s sporting director. He made it clear to me that there would be a manager of football, with autonomy, and that it would be Abel. We met with him, we met and immediately there was a great connection. We talked about what we would have done, how we would have complemented each other if Concina had won, but since that didn’t happen everything went in vain and I went to the Games with Japan ”.said the coach who has been linked to basketball for more than 40 years.

A few months ago, in an interview with ESPN, Balbo revealed why he wanted to work with Lamas and where he places him on his technical staff. “I have already spoken to Julio and he will be part of my coaching staff, but a fundamental part, because he will be my right hand. He has tremendous management experience and for that he will be of enormous help to me. He will not train on the pitch, but in that other function “commented the former footballer.

It was December 2021, when Balbo’s intentions were made known to be able to reintegrate into local football and to be able to work as a technical director. From that moment his name resonated in some clubs, but his most specific interest was that of Saint Lawrence. In the end, those of Boedo ended up opting for Ruben Dario Insua.

His references as a coach

Something that characterized him throughout his career was his great ability to score goals, in fact he converted more than 200 goals in 15 years as a professional. As a manager, he wants his teams to be offensive, vertical and generates many options. “My teams will be protagonists, with rhythm and unpredictability”, she said recently in conversation with Radio The Network.

His great reference is Jürgen Klopp, for whom he considers the number one “Group management and play practicality” and highlights the ability of its teams to quickly verticalize the game.

From his time as a player, he highlights the lessons he could draw from Bilardo, Passarella and Bianchi and admits he got an idea from them. Also, she doesn’t hide her admiration for Marcello Gallardo and believes that River is a very vertical team, something atypical in Argentine football.

Balbo believes that the formation of the group is fundamental for obtaining sporting results and told how Bilardo was in this sense. “Before the 1990 World Cup Bilardo appeared in Udine and brought together several of us. What he cared less about was the training, but the formation of the group, also leaving out a player who deserved to be or was in a better time”.

Your coaching experience

As technical director it will not be his first experience, he had short steps and little remembered by Treviso -season 08 / 09- e Arezzo -season 11 / 12-, both teams of the Italian promotion. Even if it’s been more than 10 years. In an interview he had with The nation He assured that since he was received as a manager in 2007, he has never stopped working in football.

“I led the promotion, I was director of sports areas … Yes, for the last five or six years I have dedicated myself to my family because I had two of my children who were studying in the United States and another in Spain, so it was a lot difficult for us if I went to work and left my wife alone. So I dedicated myself to my family, but I remained connected anyway, teaching in different academies, in the United States, Canada and Australia, preparing the boys and the coaches of the boys “He explained.

His playing career

His beginnings as a player took place in Newell’s old boys in 1987, the person in charge of his debut was José Yudica. In his first year, he became champion with the Leprosy, where in 28 games he scored 10 goals. His big break into the first of the Rosario club earned him the leap River Plate. There he played the 88/89 season and in a total of 39 games was able to score 12 goals.

In the 89/90 season he moved to Italian football, more precisely to Udinese. In the set Friulian he stayed for four seasons and although he couldn’t raise titles, he participated 144 games and scored 69 goals. After its great performances, it was bought by Rome for the 93/94 season. His first stint with the capital’s team lasted until 97/98, where he had a presence 167 meetings and has brought his surname on the net on 87 occasions.

His next adventure was in Parma, sensational team for those years. He was only there for one season, 98/99, but it was enough to win the Uefa Cup and Italian Cup. In 44 games he scored 12 goals. For the 99/00 course he landed Fiorentina, a very discreet passage. He scored 7 goals in 31 games in his only season. He returned to Roma, where he spent another 2 seasons and in total participated in 14 games, without being able to score goals.

It was time to go back to Argentina and his return wowed everyone after arriving Mouth in the year 2002, but his pass barely had 4 games and 1 goal. After that, announced his retirement at the age of 36.

In the national team he participated in the 1990 World Cup in Italy – in which Argentina were second -, the United States in 1994 and France in 1998, and the Copa América in 1989 and 1995. In total he played a total of 36 games, where he scored 10 goals .

Undoubtedly, his arrival in Argentine football generates, at least, enthusiasm for what he can transfer from his experience. As an immediate goal, however, he will have to put on the track a team that has been emotionally beaten after Sergio Rondina’s departure and that is only one place from relegation to the First National team. Balbo will have a lot of work to do and the question will be whether Central Córdoba will be able to give him the necessary time.