Last update 7 October, 2013 by Alberto Llopis
Who “Tata” Martino?. This is the question that many Barcelona fans will be asking themselves right now.. Barcelona closes the signing of this Argentine coach in a lightning operation. After the traumatic departure of Tito Vilanova for urgent treatment of his illness, Barcelona had to move quickly and in just three days they already have a replacement.
Gerardo “Tata” Martino nation the 20 November 1962 in Rosario, Argentina. As a player he played in the Spanish League with the Tenerife shirt and wore the Barcelona shirt, but from Guayaquil, Ecuador. He was international with Argentina and went on to play in the World Cup. 1986.
He began his career as a coach in 1998 in Argentina although he went to Paraguay to direct Libertad and Cerro Porteño. Then he passed through Colón de Santa Fé in Argentina and coached the Paraguayan team from 2007 a 2011. He was the coach of the Paraguayans in the World Cup 2010, when they put Spain in serious trouble. He arrives at Barcelona after training Newell's Old Boys. He has won almost all his titles in Paraguay.
They say about him that he is an obsessive guy and very similar to Marcelo Bielsa, your friend by the way. His pupils say that he does not lie, neither exaggerates nor promises. According to what they say, he will sign a long three-year project, until 2016 where we can check the virtues of the new culé coach. Maybe he doesn't arrive with a record at the level of Barcelona but we will have to see how he acclimatizes to his new stage.
About his new pupil, Leo Messi, declared a few weeks ago that “He was the best of his time” but in the collective matter, needed to get involved in other concepts such as pressure, defense and play without the ball. At that time he didn't even imagine that he was going to be Barcelona coach.. We'll see.