View source for Reinaldo Merlo

{{Short description|Argentine footballer (born 1950)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Reinaldo Merlo
| image = Merlo river.jpg
| upright = 0.9
| caption = Merlo playing for [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] c. 1979
| full_name = Reinaldo Carlos Merlo
| height = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1950|5|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina
| position = [[Defensive midfielder]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = 
| years1 = 1969–1984
| clubs1 = [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]]
| caps1 = 526
| goals1 = 11
| manageryears1 = 1986–1987
| managerclubs1 = [[Club Atlético Los Andes|Los Andes]]
| manageryears2 = 1989–1990
| managerclubs2 = [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]]
| manageryears3 = 1991
| managerclubs3 = [[Argentina national under-20 football team|Argentina U20]]
| manageryears4 = 1993
| managerclubs4 = [[Argentina national under-17 football team|Argentina U17]]
| manageryears5 = 1995
| managerclubs5 = [[Club Bolívar|Bolívar]]
| manageryears6 = 1998
| managerclubs6 = [[Deportes Temuco]]
| manageryears7 = 1998–1999
| managerclubs7 = [[Chacarita Juniors]]
| manageryears8 = 1999
| managerclubs8 = [[Atlético Nacional]]
| manageryears9 = 2000
| managerclubs9 = [[Club Atlético Belgrano|Belgrano]]
| manageryears10 = 2001–2002
| managerclubs10 = [[Racing Club de Avellaneda|Racing Club]]
| manageryears11 = 2004–2005
| managerclubs11 = [[Estudiantes de La Plata|Estudiantes]]
| manageryears12 = 2005–2006
| managerclubs12 = [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]]
| manageryears13 = 2006–2007
| managerclubs13 = [[Racing Club de Avellaneda|Racing Club]]
| manageryears14 = 2008
| managerclubs14 = [[Barcelona Sporting Club|Barcelona SC]]
| manageryears15 = 2009
| managerclubs15 = [[Rosario Central]]
| manageryears16 = 2013
| managerclubs16 = [[Club Atlético Douglas Haig|Douglas Haig]]
| manageryears17 = 2013–2014
| managerclubs17 = [[Racing Club de Avellaneda|Racing Club]]
| manageryears18 = 2014–2015
| managerclubs18 = [[Club Atlético Colón|Colón]]
| manageryears19 = 2017
| managerclubs19 = [[Fuerza Amarilla Sporting Club|Fuerza Amarilla]]
| manageryears20 = 2018–2019
| managerclubs20 = [[Club Atlético Racing|Racing de Córdoba]]
| manageryears21 = 2021-
| managerclubs21 = [[Club Atlético Defensores Unidos|Defensores Unidos]]
}}

'''Reinaldo Carlos Merlo''' (born 20 May 1950) is an Argentine [[association football|football]] coach and former player, who played as a [[midfielder]].

==Playing career==
Known as ''Mostaza'' (mustard) because of his off-blond hair,<ref>[http://www.notasdefutbol.com/2007/03/02-mostaza-merlo-de-heroe-a-villano ''Notas de Fútbol'' article] {{in lang|es}}</ref> Merlo played his entire career for [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] as a [[defensive midfielder]]. He was part of the midfield that conquered a string of championships under coach [[Ángel Labruna]] between 1975 and 1981, the others being [[Juan José López]] and [[Norberto Alonso]].

Merlo was, together with goalkeeper [[Ubaldo Fillol]] and defender [[Daniel Passarella]], the backbone of that team. River, nonetheless, purchased several players to fill in Merlo's position, because he was considered a great defender, but a liability once the team got the ball.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} Among them were Ramiro Pérez, ''Chamaco'' Rodríguez, Della Savia, Cierra, Carranza, Pitarch, de los Santos, and [[Américo Gallego]], who ultimately earned Merlo's position. Before retirement, Merlo mentored an up-and-coming midfielder: [[Néstor Gorosito]]. Both Gallego and Gorosito have since met Merlo as rival coaches.

Merlo made over 500 appearances for River. He won seven titles during his time at the club and made 42 appearances in the [[Superclasico]], more than any other player in history.{{citation needed|date=February 2011}}

==Managerial career==
After the end of his playing career, Merlo studied for an official coach matriculation, and proceeded to train several smaller teams until offered the position of coach at River Plate in 1989, together with Alonso. Merlo and Alonso were dismissed in mid-season after new club president Davicce made good on an election promise to bring Passarella as coach; the team won the championship title, and fans gave Merlo credit for a big part of that success.

In 1999, Merlo commanded [[Atlético Nacional]] of Colombia during the first half of the season; albeit successful, his managerial choices proved unpopular, and he resigned from his position. He was subsequently replaced by [[Luis Fernando Suarez]], who would eventually win the tournament. Fans later gave credit to Merlo for his part on the title.{{Citation needed|date=September 2013}}

In 2001, Merlo did the almost-impossible{{Citation needed|date=September 2013}} and coached the team that ended a 35-year drought for [[Racing Club de Avellaneda|Racing Club]].<ref>[http://www.elgrafico.com.ar/0000/00/00/C-983-racing-2001.php El Grafico article] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215112831/http://www.elgrafico.com.ar/0000/00/00/C-983-racing-2001.php |date=15 December 2009 }}</ref> His serenity and his insistence on taking things one match at a time earned him his nickname ''"paso a paso"'' (step by step), after the sentence he often told anxious fans and reporters.<ref>[http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/suplementos/libero/10-1685-2004-09-19.html ''Página 12'' article] {{in lang|es}}</ref>

When [[Carlos Bilardo]] left [[Estudiantes de La Plata|Estudiantes]] in 2004, Merlo was offered the post of coach; the team advanced from relegation danger to the top positions, being a contender both in the 2004 ''Apertura'' and the 2005 ''Clausura''. Merlo recalls fondly that both his debut (in 1969) and his first goal were both against Estudiantes [http://futbolistasblogspotcom.blogspot.ca/2011/11/reinaldo-carlos-merlo.html].

In August 2005, Merlo resigned from his post in Estudiantes. A few weeks later, [[Leonardo Astrada]] resigned as River Plate coach, and Merlo was brought in his place.

On 9 January 2006, following a dim campaign in which River failed to contend for the 2005 ''Apertura'', Merlo resigned as River Plate coach, and Passarella was called to fill in. There is controversy about the way he left River Plate during that pre-season of 2006. It is said that [[Marcelo Gallardo]] told him that neither he nor his teammates agreed with "his project", and that led to many discussions that made Merlo quit the team, and Gallardo is still blamed for Mostaza's sudden departure.<ref>[http://elsiglodedurango.com.mx/archivo/87074.culpa-merlo-a-gallardo-por-su-renuncia-en-riv.siglo ''El Siglo'' Article] {{in lang|es}}</ref>

Merlo since went on to unsuccessful spells as managers at [[Racing Club de Avellaneda|Racing Club]] and [[Barcelona Sporting Club|Barcelona SC]] of Ecuador.<ref>[http://edant.clarin.com/diario/2008/06/14/um/m-01694182.htm ''Merlo fue presentado como técnico del Barcelona de Ecuador''] Clarín, 14 June 2008 {{in lang|es}}</ref><ref>[http://www.mdzol.com/mdz/nota/89079 ''Merlo dejó de ser el DT de Barcelona de Guayaquil''] MDZ online, 9 de diciembre 2008{{in lang|es}}</ref>

In 2009, he became the manager of [[Rosario Central]] but left the club on 15 April 2009 after only five games in charge (won three, tied one and lost one) because of personal problems with the player [[Ezequiel González]].<ref>[http://www.cooperativa.cl/miguel-angel-russo-llego-a-rosario-central-y-diego-simeone-lo-reemplazara-en-san-lorenzo/prontus_nots/2009-04-15/235414.html ''Miguel Angel Russo llegó a Rosario Central y Diego Simeone lo reemplazará en San Lorenzo''] {{in lang|es}}</ref>

Merlo returned to managerial functions in February 2013, hired by Club Douglas Haig, playing in [[Primera B Nacional]].<ref name=douglas>[http://www.clarin.com/deportes/Mostaza-Merlo-tecnico-Douglas-Haig_0_865113665.html "Mostaza Merlo vuelve a dirigir: es el nuevo técnico de Douglas Haig"], ''Clarín'', 13 February 2013</ref>

==Honours==

===Player===
'''River Plate'''
*[[Argentine Primera División]] (7): [[1975 Argentine Primera División#Metropolitano Championship)|Metropolitano 1975]], [[1975 Argentine Primera División#Nacional Championship)|Nacional 1975]], [[1977 Argentine Primera División#Metropolitano Championship)|Metropolitano 1977]], [[1979 Argentine Primera División#Metropolitano Championship)|Metropolitano 1979]], [[1979 Argentine Primera División#Nacional Championship)|Nacional 1979]], [[1980 Argentine Primera División#Metropolitano Championship)|Metropolitano 1980]], [[1981 Argentine Primera División#Nacional Championship)|Nacional 1981]]

===Manager===
'''Racing Club'''
*[[Argentine Primera División]]: [[2001–02 in Argentine football#Torneo Apertura)|Apertura 2001]]

==See also==
*[[List of one-club men in association football|One club man]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Reinaldo Merlo}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120314175633/http://www.futbolxxi.com/Tecnico.aspx?ID=230&SEOTecnico=Merlo+Reinaldo+Carlos Recent Argentine Primera statistics]}} at Fútbol XXI {{in lang|es}}

{{Argentine Primera División winning managers}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Reinaldo Merlo managerial positions
|list1=
{{River Plate managers}}
{{Argentina national under-20 football team managers}}
{{Club Bolívar managers}}
{{Deportes Temuco managers}}
{{Chacarita Juniors managers}}
{{Atlético Nacional managers}}
{{Club Atlético Belgrano managers}}
{{Racing Club managers}}
{{Estudiantes de La Plata managers}}
{{Barcelona SC managers}}
{{Rosario Central managers}}
{{Club Atlético Colón managers}}
{{Fuerza Amarilla S.C. managers}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Merlo, Reinaldo}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Argentine men's footballers]]
[[Category:Club Atlético River Plate footballers]]
[[Category:Argentine Primera División players]]
[[Category:Footballers from Buenos Aires]]
[[Category:Argentine football managers]]
[[Category:Argentine expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:Club Atlético Los Andes managers]]
[[Category:Club Atlético River Plate managers]]
[[Category:Argentina national under-20 football team managers]]
[[Category:Club Bolívar managers]]
[[Category:Deportes Temuco managers]]
[[Category:Chacarita Juniors managers]]
[[Category:Atlético Nacional managers]]
[[Category:Club Atlético Belgrano managers]]
[[Category:Racing Club de Avellaneda managers]]
[[Category:Estudiantes de La Plata managers]]
[[Category:Barcelona S.C. managers]]
[[Category:Rosario Central managers]]
[[Category:Club Atlético Colón managers]]
[[Category:Fuerza Amarilla S.C. managers]]
[[Category:Racing de Córdoba managers]]
[[Category:Primera B Nacional managers]]
[[Category:Argentine Primera División managers]]
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[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:20th-century Argentine sportsmen]]