Argentine footballerIn this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Berizzo and the second or maternal family name is Magnolo.

Eduardo Berizzo Magnolo (American Spanish::; born 13 November 1969) is an Argentine retired footballer who played as a central defender, currently a manager.

During his 18-year professional career he played for six teams in four countries, mainly Newell's Old Boys, River Plate and Celta. The bearer of an Italian p*port, he did not occupy a non-European Union spot while competing in Europe.

Berizzo represented Argentina in two Copa América tournaments. He started working as a manager in 2007, first as an *istant with the Chile national team. In 2019, he was appointed at Paraguay.

Contents

• 1 Playing career
  • 1.1 Club
  • 1.2 International
• 2 Coaching career
• 3 Remarks on *sexuality
• 4 Managerial statistics
• 5 Honours
  • 5.1 Player
  • 5.2 Manager
• 6 Notes
• 7 References
• 8 External links

Playing career

Club

Born in Cruz Alta, Marcos Juárez, Córdoba, Berizzo started his career with Newell's Old Boys in 1988. He helped to two Primera División *les before his departure to Mexico for Club Atlas, five years later.

In 1996, Berizzo returned to his country, joining national powerhouse Club Atlético River Plate. His solid performances eventually attracted the attention of French side Olympique de Marseille, but he did not settle in the club or the country, being loaned to his former team in January 2000.

Berizzo moved to Spain with RC Celta de Vigo, in another winter transfer move. With the Galicians he was an important defensive unit, contributing 17 La Liga matches in his first year as they finished in sixth position. In his second full season he registered career-bests (at Celta) 27 games with two goals, helping the side reach the UEFA Champions League for the first time ever.

In the 2003–04 campaign, Berizzo was sent off four times, twice in the last two rounds, as Celta eventually dropped down a level. He also appeared in five matches in a round-of-16 run in European compe*ion, eventually losing his importance and being released in June 2005 at nearly 36.

Berizzo stayed in Spain and signed a one-year contract with Cádiz CF, appearing scarcely and suffering another top flight relegation. He retired at the end of the season.

International

Berizzo made his debut for Argentina in the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifying stage against Venezuela, on 9 October 1996. He was picked up for the squads for the 1997 Copa América – only playing in the quarter-final loss to Peru, being sent off after two yellow cards– and the 1999 Copa América, where he was not used.

Berizzo played his last international on 15 November 2000, in the 2002 World Cup qualifier against Chile, appearing seven minutes in a 2–0 away win. He broke his ankle in February 2002, completely ruling him out of the final stages in South Korea and *an.

Coaching career

Berizzo as O'Higgins manager in October 2012

When Marcelo Bielsa took over as Chile manager in July 2007, Berizzo became *istant manager. On 10 October 2009, in a World Cup qualifier against Colombia (4–2 away victory), he was ejected alongside Fabián Orellana and eventually received a four-match ban, not being present on the bench for the entirety of the final stages in South Africa.

In 2012, Berizzo was appointed head coach at O'Higgins FC, and achieved runner-up honours in his debut season, losing the final against Club Universidad de Chile in a penalty shootout. On 10 December 2013 he led the team to the 2013 Apertura, this being the first *le in the club's 58-year history.

On 19 May 2014, shortly after winning the Supercopa de Chile against Deportes Iquique, again on penalties, Berizzo returned to Celta but as a manager, replacing FC Barcelona-bound Luis Enrique. In his third year, he coached them to the last-four stage in both the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Europa League.

On 27 May 2017, Berizzo was confirmed as the new manager of Sevilla FC, replacing countryman Jorge Sampaoli who accepted the Argentina job. On 22 November, the club announced he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer; a month later, he was fired due to the team's poor run. Much of his short time at the club was recorded in the Amazon Prime television do*entary series Six Dreams, in which he was one of its stars.

Berizzo returned to active on 31 May 2018, being appointed at Athletic Bilbao. After winning only two of his 15 compe*ive matches in charge and with the team in the relegation zone, on 4 December of the same year he was dismissed.

On 18 February 2019, Berizzo was named Paraguay's new coach after Juan Carlos Osorio's resignation. At the year's Copa América in Brazil, he led the team to the quarter-finals where they were eliminated on penalties after a goalless draw with the hosts. Two years later, the team fell at the same stage on the same method against Peru.

Berizzo was relieved of his duties on 15 October 2021, following a 4–0 loss in Bolivia in the World Cup qualifiers.

Remarks on *sexuality

Shortly after leaving Marseille, Berizzo spoke out against alleged *sexuality in France:

"A bunch of *gots is what you have in French football. There are so many *sexual players there, they always provoke you, they touch your thighs, your bum, to see if you will give some kind of signal. I feel disgusted when a *sexual shares the same shower and stares at one's bum with desire, and even gets emotional when you are naked."

— Berizzo quoted in a Daily Telegraph article.

The day after that quote was published by Mexican newspaper La Crónica de Hoy, he denied having said that:

"It is an outrage. This is serious. That note never existed. I have no problem with having a gay colleague. People can do whatever they want to do with their private life."

— Berizzo quoted by Clarín.

Managerial statistics

As of 14 October 2021

Honours

Player

Newell's

• Argentine Primera División: 1990–91, Clausura 1992

River Plate

• Argentine Primera División: Clausura 1997, Apertura 1997, Clausura 2000
• Supercopa Libertadores: 1997

Manager

O'Higgins

• Primera División de Chile: Apertura 2013
• Supercopa de Chile: 2014

Notes

References

External links

• Eduardo Berizzo – French league stats at LFP – also available in French
• Eduardo Berizzo at BDFutbol
• Eduardo Berizzo manager profile at BDFutbol
• Eduardo Berizzo at National-Football-Teams.com
• Eduardo Berizzo – FIFA compe*ion record (archived)