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Peru: Gareca receives emotional applause on plane back to Argentina

Photo: ANDINA/Renato Pajuelo

13:11 | Callao (Callao region), Jul. 21.

Ricardo Gareca, the ex-coach of Peru's national soccer team, departed Lima for Argentina —his country of origin— on Wednesday night.

Before the plane took off, the pilot thanked the soccer specialist —a fact that led to a round of applause in unison from aircraft passengers and crew.

On the ground and in the air, the gratitude towards Gareca is the same. That was witnessed on the plane which was transporting him back to his home country —after having led the Red-White Team for seven years.

"I wanted to dedicate a few words to Mr. Ricardo Gareca. Being a Peruvian (citizen) and a fan of the national team, I want to thank him for these seven years lived," the pilot underlined.

Amid the surprise of passengers, the captain continued praising the former soccer player.

"You gave us back the hope of returning to a World Cup (tournament) after 36 years, taking us to a Copa America final, and breaking streaks that were almost impossible," the pilot expressed.

"Thank you very much, coach; always remember that the doors of our Peru will be open for you," he added.

Immediately, the rest of passengers applauded in unison. In turn, 64-year-old Gareca thanked everyone for their gesture and waved at them.

Ricardo Gareca has left Peru following the farewell conference he gave in Lima last Tuesday.

???? ?? ?? El piloto del vuelo que llevó a Ricardo Gareca a Argentina lo entendió todo. ¡El agradecimiento del pueblo peruano será eterno, ‘Tigre’! ¡GRACIAS! ?? pic.twitter.com/pAhYxdWM54
— Pase Filtrado (@pasefiltradope) July 21, 2022

Achievements

Between 2015 and 2022, Gareca led Peru's squad during 96 matches (40 wins, 21 draws, and 35 losses). The team scored 119 goals for and received 108 against.

Gareca —a former soccer player— is the coach with the most matches among South American Soccer Confederation (Conmebol) teams today and also the one who had the longest cycle —after Oscar Washington Tabarez who left the Uruguayan team in November 2021.

One of Gareca's greatest achievements at the helm of the Peruvian team was to take it to a FIFA World Cup tournament again after 36 years —once it earned the passport towards Russia 2018 by having won the intercontinental playoff against New Zealand (2-0) in Lima in November 2017.

Another of the goals fulfilled by Gareca was to lead Peru to play a Copa America final after 44 years —when it played the final versus Brazil in the 2019 edition. The Red-White Team ended second in that tournament.

Saddened by his departure, Gareca asserted that he feels a great pain for not having enabled Peru to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, adding that as a pending issue he had left was to win a title with the squad.

As is known, the Argentine is well loved in Peru.

(END) JSO/MVB

Publicado: 21/7/2022