Reinaldo Merlo

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Reinaldo Carlos Merlo (born May 20, 1950 in Buenos Aires, Argentina) is a football (soccer) coach and former player.

Known as mostaza (mustard) because of his off-blond hair, Merlo played his entire career for Club Atlético 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: Jota Jota, Merlo, 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. The list includes Ramiro Pérez, Chamaco Rodriguez, Della Savia, Cierra, Carranza, Pitarch, Uruguayan de los Santos, and Argentine great Américo Gallego, who ultimetely earned the No. 5 jersey. Before retirement, Merlo mentored an up-and-coming midfielder: Néstor Gorosito. Both Gallego and Gorosito have since met Merlo as rival coaches.

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 the year 2001, Merlo did the almost-impossible and coached the team that ended a 35-year drought for Racing Club. 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.

When Carlos Bilardo left Estudiantes de La Plata 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 best goal were both against Estudiantes.

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.

In January 9 2006, following a dim campign 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 preseason of 2006. It is said that Marcelo Gallardo told him that neither him nor his teammates agreed with "his project", and that led to many discussions that made Merlo quit the team, and Marcelo Gallardo is still blamed for Mostaza's sudden departure.

Racing Club de Avellaneda - Current Squad
1 Gullotta | 2 Cabral | 3 Esquivel | 4 Sánchez | 5 Torres | 6 Crosa | 7 Bastía | 8 Peralta | 9 Sava | 10 Moralez | 11 Arizala | 14 Menghi | 15 Barroso | 16 Benítez | 17 Culio | 18 Vitali | 19 Bergessio | 20 Fileppi | 21 Maciel | 22 S. Romero | 23 Miralles | 24 Malano | 25 Campagnuolo | 26 De la Fuente | 27 S.M.A. Romero | 28 González | 31 Yacob | 32 Mercado | 33 Garcia | Manager: Merlo