San Lorenzo de Almagro is embroiled in a boardroom debate over its next manager, with Rubén Darío Insua emerging as the leading candidate for a third spell in charge. The club currently sits 14th in the Liga Profesional Argentina with just 7 points from 7 games, urgently needing a sporting revival after a 1-0 loss to Instituto Córdoba on September 1st. According to Clarin Deportes, president Marcelo Culotta received proposals from businessman Christian Bragarnik, but the Insua option is gaining strength within the club's board.
Insua, who was on vacation in Miami, was scheduled to arrive in Buenos Aires on Wednesday night. His assistant, Fabián García, was already attentive to his arrival. Meanwhile, sporting coordinator Walter Perazzo will lead the team this Saturday at 19:00 against Talleres at the Nuevo Gasómetro, a crucial match where San Lorenzo will try to end a two-game losing streak. The team has scored only 2 goals and conceded 5 this season, showing an urgent need for improvement.
Why is Insua the preferred option?
Rubén Darío Insua's previous experience at San Lorenzo de Almagro weighs heavily in his favor. In his first spell between 2002 and 2003 he managed 47 matches, achieved 21 wins and lifted the Copa Sudamericana. His second stint, from 2020 to 2024, was longer with 99 games, 38 wins and only 20 losses. He was dismissed on April 11, 2024 after a 2-0 loss to Independiente del Valle in the Copa Libertadores, when Marcelo Moretti was president and Néstor Ortigoza technical secretary, positions they no longer hold.
After leaving the club, Insua managed Barracas Central from September 2024 to June 2026, completing 74 matches and achieving qualification for the Copa Sudamericana. His record of stability contrasts with the recent turnover at San Lorenzo, where Culotta has already appointed two managers in under 90 days since his arrival in June. Insua himself stated after his departure: "We were calm. It had been a virtuous cycle, we never stopped growing. The most important thing was missing, which was winning a title."
What other options did the board consider?
Christian Bragarnik presented Marcelo Culotta with two folders of alternatives before the Insua option gained momentum. One contained the backgrounds of the duo Favio Orsi and Sergio Gómez. The other included the statistics of Sebastián Méndez, a former San Lorenzo player from 2006 to 2009 and interim coach in 2010. However, other options like Gustavo Quinteros, Luis Zubeldía and Pablo Zabaleta were ruled out for being financially out of reach for a club with a debt of 97 million dollars.
Pablo Zabaleta, currently an assistant to Sylvinho with the Albania national team and part of FIFA's Technical Study Group for the 2026 World Cup, was an interesting but expensive option. Pablo Lavallén was also considered, but remains committed to Marathon of Honduras. This exhaustive search reflects the pressure to improve a performance that has the team 9 points behind leaders Instituto Córdoba in the standings, information you can follow on our standings page.
How did the club reach this situation?
The instability on San Lorenzo de Almagro's bench is not new. Jorge Almirón had a failed stint in 2018. Gustavo Álvarez resigned due to differences in squad management. Néstor Gorosito was appointed by Culotta as a last resort and dismissed after just eight matches. This succession of changes contrasts with the continuity Insua could offer, having previously criticized Moretti by stating he had supported him for 18 matches since his presidency began.
The current context demands quick decisions. Culotta will complete his mandate after winning the early elections on May 30, but the sporting urgency won't wait. With only 2 wins in 7 matches and a -3 goal difference, the team needs an immediate boost. The next test will be this Saturday against Talleres Córdoba, a rival sitting in 15th place, in a direct duel to escape the lower positions. Details of the squad available for that match are in our squad section. The match will be played on September 5, 2026 at the Nuevo Gasómetro.
