At Pumas, Esteban Solari’s early months have brought uneven results, but his route to Universidad Nacional includes a formative spell inside Argentina’s youth international set-up, working beside players who would soon help define the country’s modern era.
From Argentina’s youth teams to Pumas
- Solari joined the Argentine Football Association structure in 2019, during Claudio Tapia’s presidency and with Lionel Scaloni leading the senior national team.
- Known as “Tano”, he served as Fernando Batista’s assistant with Argentina’s under-20 and under-23 sides, one of the first major coaching assignments of his career.
- That work placed him close to Alexis Mac Allister, Julián Álvarez and Thiago Almada while they were progressing through the international pathway.
- Mac Allister and Álvarez later became important members of Argentina’s World Cup-winning squad in Qatar in 2022, while Almada has also established himself as a notable attacking player in international football.
The period is increasingly relevant to Solari’s work in Mexico. His experience with emerging players has been identified as one of his strengths, even if it has received limited attention during his first spell as Pumas coach.
For a club with a strong academy tradition, Solari’s background in guiding young internationals could become an important part of the longer-term project. Universidad Nacional are also seeking figures with a connection to the institution and an ability to build a bond with supporters.
Coaching influences
Solari has pointed to Ricardo Ferretti and Juanma Lillo as key references in shaping his approach. From Ferretti, who coached him during his own time at Pumas, Solari has highlighted both discipline and the Brazilian’s closeness to his players.
His opening at Pumas has not been smooth, yet there have been encouraging elements from the squad. The feeling around the project is that time and patience may be needed if Solari is to translate his youth-development experience into a more settled future for the club.
