Marcelo Gallardo (foto: Uradni Twitter profil kluba/zveze)
The Argentine giant River Plate has exceeded an incredible milestone of 350,000 active members.
River Plate of Buenos Aires is considered one of the largest, if not the largest club in South America. The club's current roster of 350,000 active members is a testament to its magnitude, potentially the highest among all clubs worldwide, although comparisons are challenging due to varying data sources.
According to Argentine outlet Ole, River Plate gained 5,000 new members in just two days, a direct result of the return of legendary coach Marcelo Gallardo. This sparked a phenomenon among fans known as 'Munecomania.'
Gallardo is a true icon of River Plate, having won 22 titles as both a player and a coach, sharing the top spot on the club's all-time list with Angel Labruna. Gallardo won eight titles as a player and 14 as a coach.
Gallardo will make his first appearance to the fans since his return this Saturday when River Plate hosts Huracan at El Monumental stadium.