Eduardo Domínguez will play in his sixth final on this day since taking over as head of the student team
Eduardo Domínguez was about to say goodbye to Estudiantes. The night of the defeat against the Argentinos left a message that is close to farewell. But here too, as in various moments of his success cycle, he has reinvented himself and will contest a new final on Saturday, the sixth in two years. There is currently no other coach as successful, as Marcelo Gallardo only has two in this period (although there are 18 in total in River) and Gustavo Costas (4) is the closest. Coincidentally, it will be the one sitting on the opposite bench.
El Barba joined Estudiantes in March 2023 following the fleeting and unfortunate departure of Abel Balbo. Two weeks later he lost the classic after several years and some began to view him with suspicion. As the games progressed, he reversed this trend and in December of the same year, after an incredible failure in the quarter-finals of the Copa Sudamericana, reached the final of the Argentine Cup, which he won 1-0 over Defensa y Justicia at the Lanús Field. It was exactly 12/13/23.
The year 2024 started with some ups and downs. Good in the tournament but with negative results for the Libertadores, for which they qualified by winning the Argentine Cup. In the middle, and while the team was getting used to the reinforcements, they played the Argentine Super Cup against River, with a 1-2 defeat in the last moment of the game. Again on the 13th
Five months later he reached his third final. It was in May 2024 against Vélez, after a good time in the League Cup. In Santiago del Estero they won on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular time. Third final, with a positive balance so far. Pincha knew how to play the final spurt well, with a win over Barracas del Chiqui Tapia, a draw and a better result against Boca and a win in a final that is heavenly.
The year didn’t go well as the team was eliminated from the Copa Libertadores and didn’t have a good tournament in the league. But after beating Fortín, he got the chance to play in the Champions Trophy against the same rival who was also the winner of the long tournament. And Pincha de Domínguez won it 3-0 at the Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero. When? On December 13th.
The final isn’t over yet. The fifth, by Ciclo Domínguez, was in the middle of the year, in the most difficult phase and when the relationship was not going completely well. Against Vélez in the International Super Cup. It took place on the Independiente field and this time the winner was Fortín, who won the game 2-0 and somehow got rid of the thorn from the other lost finals.
Now the sixth definition for Estudiantes de Domínguez has arrived. It will be on Saturday 13th in Santiago del Estero against Racing, after an irregular Clausura tournament, but with a very high finish: they eliminated Rosario Central as a guest, Central Córdoba in the Madre de Ciudades and Gimnasia in El Bosque, in the “classic of the century”. The three games 1-0.
Nobody knows what will happen to the coach who almost said goodbye at the press conference a month ago. The majority of fans adore him and he shows it at every home game with a standing ovation whenever his last name is mentioned. He is also close to the executives and the technical secretary Marcos Angeleri. From a footballing perspective, there isn’t much to discuss with him. But after two and a half years it seems time to look for new horizons. Only when the competition is over will the parties sit down for talks. Little is known behind closed doors, but with the season ending like this, it’s impossible that he won’t be offered an extension. Whatever happens from now on, your name will be a respected word in the student world.
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