Gerardo Rodolfo Acuña (born 18 December 1979) is an Argentine football manager and former player who played as a forward. He is the current manager of Estudiantes de Río Cuarto's reserve team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gerardo Rodolfo Acuña | ||
| Date of birth | 18 December 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Morteros, Argentina | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Estudiantes de Río Cuarto (reserves manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Tiro Federal de Morteros | |||
| 9 de Julio de Morteros | |||
| Unión Santa Fe | |||
| Atlético Rafaela | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995–1996 | 9 de Julio de Morteros | ||
| 2000–2002 | Atlético Rafaela | 15 | (0) |
| 2002–2004 | 9 de Julio de Morteros | ||
| 2004–2005 | Ateneo Vecinos | ||
| 2006–2007 | 9 de Julio de Morteros | ||
| 2007 | Sportivo Belgrano | 10 | (4) |
| 2008 | Tiro Federal de Morteros | 12 | (2) |
| 2008–2009 | 9 de Julio de Río Tercero | 22 | (11) |
| 2009–2012 | Ateneo Vecinos | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2012 | Ateneo Vecinos (player-manager) | ||
| 2013–2019 | Tiro Federal de Morteros | ||
| 2020 | 9 de Julio de Morteros | ||
| 2021 | Estudiantes de Río Cuarto | ||
| 2021–2023 | Sarmiento de Leones | ||
| 2024–2026 | 9 de Julio de Morteros | ||
| 2026– | Estudiantes de Río Cuarto (reserves) | ||
| 2026 | Estudiantes de Río Cuarto (interim) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
editBorn in Morteros, Córdoba Province, Acuña played for hometown sides Tiro Federal de Morteros and 9 de Julio de Morteros before making his first team debut at the age of 15. After a failed trial at Boca Juniors, he subsequently represented Unión de Santa Fe and Atlético Rafaela, where he made his professional debut in Primera B Nacional in 2000.[1]
After leaving Rafaela in 2002, Acuña returned to 9 de Julio. He would resume his playing career in the lower leagues, representing Ateneo Vecinos de General Cabrera (two stints), 9 de Julio again, Sportivo Belgrano,[2] Tiro Federal de Morteros and 9 de Julio de Río Tercero.[3][4] In 2011, aged 31, he suffered a serious knee injury while at Ateneo which led him to management.[1]
Managerial career
editIn January 2012, while still recovering from his injury, Acuña was confirmed as player-manager of his last club Ateneo Vecinos.[5] On 26 June of the following year, he was announced in charge of another club he represented as a player, Tiro Federal de Morteros.[6]
On 11 December 2019, after being knocked out in the inaugural Torneo Regional Federal Amateur and narrowly avoiding relegation in the Liga Regional de San Francisco, Acuña left Tiro Federal.[7] On 6 March 2020, he was named manager of 9 de Julio de Morteros.[8]
On 6 February 2021, Acuña replaced Marcelo Vázquez at the helm of Estudiantes de Río Cuarto in the second division.[9] On 6 September, after a poor run of form, he left by mutual consent.[10]
On 29 October 2021, Acuña was appointed Sarmiento de Leones manager.[11] He left the club in December 2023, and returned to 9 de Morteros shortly after.[12]
On 26 January 2026, Acuña resigned from 9 de Julio,[13] after two members from his technical staff died. He subsequently returned to Estudiantes as a manager of their reserve team.[14]
On 15 March 2026, Acuña was named interim manager of Estudiantes, after Iván Delfino was sacked.[15] Seven days later, despite suffering two losses in as many matches, he was confirmed as manager for the remainder of the Apertura tournament.[16]
On 6 May 2026, Acuña ended his interim spell, after six winless matches.[17]
References
edit- 1 2 "El "Toro" Acuña y un camino bien del interior" ["Toro" Acuña and a pathway well from the countryside] (in Spanish). La Voz de San Justo. 27 March 2026. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ "El nuevo DT de Estudiantes que jugó en Sportivo" [The new manager of Estudiantes who have played at Sportivo] (in Spanish). Diario Sports. 7 February 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ "Especial Gerardo "Toro" Acuña" [Special Gerardo "Toro" Acuña] (in Spanish). LV16.com. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ "Las referencias de "Toro"" [The references of "Toro"] (in Spanish). Al Toque Deportes. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ "Gerardo Acuña, técnico y jugador de Ateneo Vecinos" [Gerardo Acuña, player and manager of Ateneo Vecinos] (in Spanish). Al Toque Deportes. 7 January 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ "El "toro" Acuña dirigirá a Tiro Federal de Morteros" ["Toro" Acuña will manage Tiro Federal de Morteros] (in Spanish). Al Toque Deportes. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ "Tiro Federal cerró el ciclo de Gerardo Acuña" [Tiro Federal ended the cycle of Gerardo Acuña] (in Spanish). Radio Belgrano AM 1510. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ "Gerardo Acuña es el nuevo DT de 9 de Morteros" [Gerardo Acuña is the new manager of 9 de Morteros] (in Spanish). Radio Belgrano AM 1510. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ "Tras la salida de Vázquez, Gerardo Acuña es el nuevo DT de Estudiantes (RC)" [After Vázquez's departure, Gerardo Acuña is the new manager of Estudiantes (RC)] (in Spanish). La Nueva Mañana. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ "Acuña deja la conducción técnica de Estudiantes: lo reemplaza Seferino Flores" [Acuña leaves his position as manager of Estudiantes: Seferino Flores replaces him] (in Spanish). Puntal. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ "Gerardo Acuña, nuevo DT de Sarmiento de Leones" [Gerardo Acuña, new manager of Sarmiento de Leones] (in Spanish). El Tiempo Morteros. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ "Nueve presentó a los nuevos entrenadores de fútbol y básquet" [Nueve presented the new managers of football and basketball] (in Spanish). Radio Morteros. 28 December 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ "Gerardo Acuña renunció a la dirección técnica de 9 de Julio tras la eliminación" [Gerardo Acuña resigned from 9 de Julio's technical direction after the elimination] (in Spanish). La Radio 102.9. 26 January 2026. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ "Gerardo Acuña, DT de Estudiantes de Río Cuarto: "Ante River será el partido más importante de mi vida"" [Gerardo Acuña, manager of Estudiantes de Río Cuarto: "The match against River will be the most important of my life"] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 18 March 2026. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ "La emotiva revelación del DT de Estudiantes de Río Cuarto antes del día "más importante de mi vida como entrenador"" [The emotional revelation from the manager of Estudiantes de Río Cuarto before the "most important day of my life as a manager"] (in Spanish). Olé. 18 March 2026. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ "Dagatti ratificó a Acuña como DT de Estudiantes de Río Cuarto pese al mal momento" [Dagatti confirmed Acuña as manager of Estudiantes de Río Cuarto despite the poor form] (in Spanish). La Voz del Interior. 22 March 2026. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ↑ "Fin de ciclo en Estudiantes de Río Cuarto: Gerardo Acuña dejó de ser el entrenador" [End of cycle at Estudiantes de Río Cuarto: Gerardo Acuña ceased to be the manager] (in Spanish). Canal Show Sport. 6 May 2025. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
External links
edit- Gerardo Acuña at BDFA (in Spanish)