Platense Part Ways with Walter Zunino Just Days Before Copa Libertadores Clash

Platense will enter their historic Copa Libertadores round of 16 tie without a head coach after Walter Zunino left the club by mutual agreement on Wednesday. The 44-year-old’s departure comes just one week before the first leg against Chilean side Coquimbo Unido, an unprecedented continental fixture for the Argentine club.

The decision was announced shortly after a 4-0 home defeat to Talleres de Córdoba in Vicente López, a result that deepened the team’s recent slump. In a brief statement, the club thanked Zunino for his “commitment, respect and affection,” and confirmed the separation was mutual. The timing leaves Platense scrambling to appoint a successor with the most important match in their history less than seven days away.

Por que importa

Zunino’s tenure began in November 2025, when he replaced Cristian “Kily” González. He had previously served as an assistant to the coaching duo Favio Orsi and Sergio Gómez, who led Platense to their first ever Primera División title in 2024. Taking over a champion side, Zunino inherited a squad that had already secured a spot in the 2026 Copa Libertadores group stage.

During his eight months in charge, Zunino oversaw 28 matches across the Trofeo de Campeones, Copa Argentina, Copa Libertadores, and domestic league fixtures. Results were inconsistent, and the side never fully replicated the form of the title-winning campaign. The heavy loss to Talleres was the breaking point, eroding confidence in his leadership just as the club approached its biggest European-style night.

Contexto

The timing of the decision amplifies the uncertainty. Platense are scheduled to host Coquimbo Unido on August 12 in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16. It is the first time the club has reached this stage in a continental competition. The entire institution — from the boardroom to the dressing room — now faces a rushed transition.

Adding to the tension, the defeat to Talleres was marred by an exchange between captain Ignacio Vázquez and a fan in the stands. The incident, which was widely shared on social media, reflected the growing frustration among supporters. The club’s form had dipped, and the atmosphere around the stadium had soured in recent weeks.

Que sigue

The search for a new coach will now dominate the next few days. Platense’s leadership must decide whether to promote an interim from within the current staff or appoint an external candidate on short notice. Any new manager will have minimal time to implement tactical ideas before facing a well-organized Coquimbo side that eliminated strong opponents to reach this stage.

For Platense fans, the departure of Zunino brings both hope and anxiety. The change offers a chance to reset mentally, but it also risks disrupting whatever preparation had been done for the Libertadores tie. The team’s historic campaign — their first continental knockout appearance — now hinges on a quick and wise decision from the front office.

Source: Ole, “Platense se quedó sin DT a una semana de la Libertadores: Walter Zunino dejó su cargo,” published 5 August 2026. Available at https://www.ole.com.ar/futbol-primera/walter-zunino-desvinculado-platense-tecnico_0_AkTsQVExhF.html