Athletico-PR announces Lucho González to replace Martín Varini

The Athletico-PR has announced the signing of Argentine Lucho González to replace Uruguayan Martín Varini as the head coach after the draw with Criciúma.

Lucho González retired as a player at Furacão in 2021 and had his first experience as a coach also with Furacão. He started in the youth category and later debuted as an assistant coach for Alberto Valentim with the first team in February 2022, at the invitation of Paulo Autuori.

Come follow how Varini’s stint at Athletico went and what to expect from Lucho González.

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Lucho González at Athletico-PR

Lucho González has a remarkable history at Athletico-PR as a player. Signed in 2016, he “lived the golden era” of the club, winning the Copa Sudamericana twice, in 2018 and 2021, the Copa do Brasil in 2019, as well as lifting the J. League/Conmebol trophy in 2019 and the Campeonato Paranaense in 2020.

In his entire playing career, Lucho González is the second Argentine with the most titles, with 30 trophies, second only to Lionel Messi.

Photo: Matheus Sebenello/NeoPhoto

While still a player, Lucho began his B License courses with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and his PRO License with the Argentine Football Association (AFA), completing them after his retirement.

At Furacão, he transitioned through the youth ranks and later debuted as an assistant coach for Alberto Valentim with the first team in February 2022, again at the invitation of Paulo Autuori.

Just two months later, he resigned following Alberto Valentim’s dismissal. In August, he had his first experience as a head coach when he was hired by Ceará. His tenure was short, just 10 matches, with a low success rate of 23.3%, managing one win, five losses, and four draws.

Finally, in 2023, he joined Internacional as an assistant to Eduardo Coudet.

At Furacão, Lucho González will have the challenge of restoring the team’s confidence, which has seen a significant drop in form in the Brasileirão. The team is in 13th place with 31 points, just three ahead of Corinthians, the first team in the relegation zone with 28 points.

In the Copa Sudamericana, Furacão is ahead after beating Racing 1-0 at home in the first leg, thanks to a beautiful goal from João Cruz.

Lucho González’s debut will take place next Thursday (26th) in a decisive match against Racing in the second leg of the Copa Sudamericana.

Photo: Gustavo Oliveira/Athletico

Martín Varini’s Athletico-PR

Martín Varini was hired by Athletico-PR in July, filling the vacancy left by Cuca, who had resigned weeks earlier. His previous job was with Uruguay’s Defensor.

At Furacão, the coach debuted with a win over Ypiranga in the Copa do Brasil, and he managed a positive run in the knockout competitions.

In the Brasileirão, however, the team has struggled, going seven matches without a win and sitting in 13th place with 31 points, just three points clear of Corinthians, the first team in the relegation zone with 28 points.

Martín Varini had a short playing career as a center-back, turning professional with Defensor in 2011, but due to limited opportunities, he decided to retire after going without a contract in 2014.

He began his coaching career very young. At Defensor, he served as interim coach in 2020, and the following year he became the head coach of Rentistas. He was also an assistant to Paulo Pezzolano at Cruzeiro and Real Valladolid before returning to Defensor as the head coach, where he won the Uruguayan Cup in 2023.

At Defensor, he managed 26 games, with 15 wins, 6 draws, and 5 losses. His team scored 47 goals and conceded 26, finishing third in the Uruguayan Apertura, despite having a budget much smaller than that of Peñarol and Nacional, the top teams.

Varini is currently only 33 years old.

Photo: Wagner Meier/Getty Images / Esporte News Mundo

Written by Henry Miller.