Not only players can change the course of matches in "Copa America," but a number of coaches are also capable of seizing victory and turning the tide in moments. The minds of "Copa America" are shining as they seek qualification since the competitions began early this Friday evening, driven by many ambitions and dreams of fans aiming for the championship.
**Lionel Scaloni**
Life in Buenos Aires has been filled with joy for Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni, but behind that joy lies a lot of hard work, with the memory of the World Cup final in Qatar against France still fresh. The World Cup final was filled with tactical moves, as well as resilience against France for two extra halves, and the match going to penalties marks a qualitative leap for Scaloni, who skillfully utilized Messi and Di Maria on the flanks. During the "Copa America" competitions, Scaloni faces a new tournament that could be an opportunity to become the most famous coach in his country's history if he wins the title. The 46-year-old Scaloni received the FIFA Best Coach award after winning the World Cup, perhaps reaching the peak attainable for a coach, especially after winning "Copa America" in Brazil in 2021. Moreover, there is a strong desire from everyone for Lionel to continue for a long time as long as he remains capable of delivering.
**Dorival Júnior**
Dorival Júnior, 62, has a unique experience, having throughout his career coached major clubs in Brazil, including São Paulo, Flamengo, Palmeiras, and Fluminense, before taking charge of the Brazilian national team, which is currently going through a challenging period. Winning the Copa Libertadores with Flamengo in the 2021/2022 season was a turning point in his career, qualifying him as a candidate to coach the national team. Dorival is aware that he was not the first choice to manage Brazil, as European names were initially in the spotlight, including Carlo Ancelotti, the current manager of Real Madrid, or Luis Enrique, the coach of Paris Saint-Germain. However, in the end, the Brazilian Football Confederation chose him to carry the illuminating torch. Dorival has a golden opportunity to create a new generation of players, especially with Vinícius Júnior recently shining at Real Madrid, but if he fails in his mission, the Brazilian Federation will not hesitate to remove him from his position.
**Marcelo Bielsa**
Argentinian Marcelo Bielsa, at 68, embarks on a special journey as the coach of the Uruguayan national team, steeped in rich history. The coach, nicknamed "El Loco," aims to win the "Copa America" to restore the lost glory of Montevideo's children. Bielsa favors an aggressive attacking style, employing most players to seek out the opponent's goal, which is a beautiful tactic for fans of offensive football, but sometimes the spaces he leaves behind become his Achilles' heel in matches. The games he leads often result in large scores, whether in his favor or against him. Despite this, Bielsa is an inspiration to many coaches of the attacking school, including Pep Guardiola, one of the current coaching legends, who leads Manchester City. Bielsa relies on offensive-minded players to execute his tactics, and although he may not have many titles in his achievements—having won Olympic gold in Athens with Argentina, as well as the Championship with Leeds United, ascending to the Premier League, and a league title with Vélez Sarsfield once, and three times with Newell's Old Boys—he has a long history of providing attacking football that Uruguay may need, especially as Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani age.
**Ricardo Gareca**
Argentinian Ricardo Gareca, the coach of the Chilean national team, dreams of having time to achieve the "Copa America" title, but the challenges he faces are tough, particularly as he aims to build a new generation of players apart from those who won in 2015 and 2016. It will be a challenging search for Gareca to find names in the current generation that can create a strong attacking legacy in Chile, such as Iván Zamorano and Marcelo Salas, but he might discover a thin thread that connects this list to the roots of the past. Chile's success in winning the "Copa America" twice within less than 10 years is a beautiful dream as it came at the expense of Argentina on both occasions, and in the same way, via penalties. However, Gareca, 66, seeks to make his mark and give hope to fans who find competition tough in this edition hosted by the United States.
