Matias Gallardo: Making a name for himself

When your father is a national icon and one of the biggest names of one of the biggest clubs in South America, it can be a challenge to get out of his shadow. But Matias Gallardo is determined to write his own story as the best soccer player that he can be.

In an exclusive interview with Scarves and Spikes, the Buenos Aires native discussed his playing career and how he is enjoying this chapter wearing the five stripes of Atlanta United. Although he has been working on his English, he preferred to do this interview in Spanish.

Gallardo, 20, entered the River Plate youth system in 2014 when his father, Marcelo, was named the first team coach. He rose through the ranks of the Argentine giants and even made his first team debut during a friendly against Universidad de Chile on March 25, 2023.

But then things started to stagnate for Gallardo. He stayed with the reserves and saw fewer minutes as the season went on. As a result, he made the decision to leave his boyhood club during the summer and look to continue his career elsewhere.

“One of the opportunities that I got was from Atlanta United 2, and honestly I saw that it was a really good opportunity for me – for my career and my future – so I decided to take it,” Gallardo said.

Gallardo signed with Atlanta United 2 on July 27, 2023 as a free transfer from River Plate. While the change of scenery brought some excitement, it also meant some sacrifice. He was leaving behind his home, his people, his friends and his family.

“At first, it was difficult, but as I started getting used to the United States and the club – which has treated me well from the start, the adjustment went well,” Gallardo said.

Having been stateside for almost a year, Gallardo pointed out that Atlanta United and River Plate are similar in the high level of play and that really the only difference is the demand that competing in Argentina brings.

It did not take long for the move to pay off for Gallardo. He played 154 minutes with Atlanta United 2 in the tail end of the 2023 season. Then, he was given the opportunity to join the first team for preseason camp in the new year. For him, it was a welcome surprise getting called into the first team camp so soon after arriving.

“Them [Atlanta United] calling me into preseason was also something that I enjoyed a lot,” Gallardo said, “I tried to learn from the older players, the coaching staff and all of the talented players there.”

He specifically mentioned spending time with other Latin American players such as his compatriot Thiago Almada and Colombian Edwin Mosquera.

Gallardo has been a key part of head coach Steve Cooke’s team during the 2024 MLS Next Pro season playing primarily as a winger. He has racked up 1,057 minutes throughout 16 appearances and scored a memorable first goal during a 2-2 draw against Columbus Crew 2 that Atlanta United 2 won 6-5 on penalties.

“I had been trying to score for a long time,” Gallardo said with a grin, “It came recently in the last game and we were able to help the team.”

That night got even better for Gallardo as he was able to rush back into the locker room after the match to watch the end of the Copa America Final where Argentina claimed its 16th title with a 1-0 extra time win over Colombia.

Already a mainstay in the second team and dipping his toe in the first team, Gallardo said his goal is to continue scoring and soon make the jump to the top level. Off the field, he said he wants to continue enjoying what the city of Atlanta has to offer and make the most of his time here.

Like many Argentine players around the world, Gallardo is a routine drinker of yerba mate, a hot drink that has several health benefits. He said he started drinking mate as a child and has continued it to this day. Traditionally being a social drink shared with others, Gallardo said he once tried offering it to a teammate, but they did not seem to like it.

Of course, it is impossible to talk about Gallardo without his father coming to mind. The former Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina national team midfielder is a legend in his country for his success coaching River Plate to dominate for the better part of a decade. Matias said that it is a great pride to be Marcelo’s son and that his father is always there when he or his siblings need him. Matias said the best advice he has gotten from his father is to always enjoy the game and to give his best each and every day.

When asked if he would like his father to fill the first team’s head coaching vacancy, Gallardo just laughed and replied, “Those are things that people say, but I keep myself away from that.”

Aside from his father, Gallardo said his idol growing up has (unsurprisingly) always been Lionel Messi, but in recent years he has admired Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Exequiel Palacios.

Although, like most footballers, Gallardo dreams of playing for a big team in a top league, his focus for the time being is right here in Atlanta where he is forging his own path. He expressed immense gratitude for the fans that come out to cheer the 2s at Fifth-Third Bank Stadium, and he promises them that he will always give his best.

“I want them [Atlanta United fans] to know that I will always give the best of me in each match – whether it’s five, 10, 15 minutes. I will always be available to what the coaching staff needs from me,” Gallardo said.

Gallardo and Atlanta United 2 will travel to Alabama for a visit to Huntsville City on Saturday, July 27. All MLS Next Pro matches are available through MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.