# Fernando Gago
**Fernando Rubén Gago** (born 1986 in Ciudadela, Argentina) is an Argentine football manager and former midfielder who played for [Boca Juniors](https://www.edgepedia.org/boca-juniors), Real Madrid, AS Roma, Valencia CF, and Vélez Sarsfield before becoming a coach at Aldosivi, Racing Club, Chivas de [Guadalajara](https://www.edgepedia.org/guadalajara), Boca Juniors, Necaxa, and Universidad de Chile.[1](https://www.realmadrid.com/es-ES/el-club/historia/leyendas-futbol/fernando-fernando-gago) • [2](https://www.velezsarsfield.com.ar/futbol/plantel/perfil/125-fernandogago) • [3](https://www.sofascore.com/football/manager/fernando-gago/795466) As a player he was a defensive midfielder valued for his technique and passing; as a manager he is known for a possession-based, aggressive style built around a 4-3-3 formation.[3](https://www.sofascore.com/football/manager/fernando-gago/795466) • [4](https://es.coachesvoice.com/cv/fernando-gago-analisis-racing/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1986, Ciudadela, Buenos Aires, Argentina[1](https://www.realmadrid.com/es-ES/el-club/historia/leyendas-futbol/fernando-fernando-gago) |
| Playing position | Central midfielder (defensive midfield)[1](https://www.realmadrid.com/es-ES/el-club/historia/leyendas-futbol/fernando-fernando-gago) • [5](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/fernando-gago/) |
| Real Madrid record | 121 matches, 2007–2011; 2 Ligas, 1 Copa del Rey, 1 Supercopa de España[1](https://www.realmadrid.com/es-ES/el-club/historia/leyendas-futbol/fernando-fernando-gago) |
| Managerial career | Aldosivi, Racing Club (2021–2023), Chivas (2024), Boca Juniors (2024–2025), Necaxa (2025), Universidad de Chile (from March 2026)[3](https://www.sofascore.com/football/manager/fernando-gago/795466) |
| Managerial totals | 249 matches, 114 wins, 54 draws, 81 losses, 1.59 points per match, preferred formation 4-3-3[3](https://www.sofascore.com/football/manager/fernando-gago/795466) |
| Racing Club spell | 109 matches, 53 wins, 28 draws, 28 losses, 1.72 points per match (2021/22–2022/23)[6](https://canchallena.lanacion.com.ar/entrenador/fernando-gago-b3x0heaz2t4sl5qpabvlhr6d/) |
| Health event | Acute myocardial infarction on 18 June 2026 in Chile; emergency surgery, hospital discharge on 23 June, return to the bench on 2 July[7](https://www.tycsports.com/chile/futbol-de-chile/gago-infarto-volvio-dirigir-hablo-primera-vez-universidad-de-chile-id747361.html) |
## Playing career
Gago came through the youth divisions of Boca Juniors and made his first-division debut in 2004, winning the Argentine Apertura gold medal in 2005.[8](https://www.coarg.org.ar/guiadelegacion/guia%20beijing%202008.pdf) Ramón Maddoni, a renowned youth coach, had described him from an early age as a boy with "an incredible technical capacity, a lot of skill and a lot of dedication to winning the ball back and striking it well".[9](https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/esportes/futebol/futebol-internacional/quem-e-fernando-gago-tecnico-que-tentara-tirar-o-boca-juniors-da-crise/)
**Real Madrid.** Gago moved to Real Madrid at the end of 2006 and spent five seasons there, from 2007 to 2011 by the club's own record, playing 121 matches and winning two [La Liga](https://www.edgepedia.org/la-liga) titles, one [Copa del Rey](https://www.edgepedia.org/copa-del-rey), and one [Supercopa de España](https://www.edgepedia.org/supercopa-de-espana).[1](https://www.realmadrid.com/es-ES/el-club/historia/leyendas-futbol/fernando-fernando-gago) The Spanish club loaned him to AS Roma for the 2011–12 season and to Valencia CF the following year.[10](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2024-10-15/fernando-gago-vuelve-a-sus-inicios-ahora-como-entrenador.html)
**Return to Argentina.** In 2013 Gago decided to return to Argentina, spending half a season on loan at Vélez Sarsfield before rejoining Boca Juniors in mid-2013, where he stayed until 2019.[10](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2024-10-15/fernando-gago-vuelve-a-sus-inicios-ahora-como-entrenador.html) In this second Boca spell he won two national titles and a Copa Argentina.[9](https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/esportes/futebol/futebol-internacional/quem-e-fernando-gago-tecnico-que-tentara-tirar-o-boca-juniors-da-crise/) His Boca career statistics across both spells record 199 total appearances and 9 goals.[11](https://desdelaventana.com.ar/staff/fernando-gago/?print=pdf) He retired in 2020 after a final season at Vélez, having suffered several serious injuries that kept him out for long periods.[10](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2024-10-15/fernando-gago-vuelve-a-sus-inicios-ahora-como-entrenador.html)
## Managerial career
Gago began coaching at Aldosivi in 2021, where he took charge of 26 matches with a balance of 7 wins, 3 draws, and 16 losses; Aldosivi started the 2021 Torneo well but could not sustain the level, and he left.[4](https://es.coachesvoice.com/cv/fernando-gago-analisis-racing/) At the end of that year he signed for Racing Club, one of Argentina's major clubs, with the objective of reviving the team's play and results.[4](https://es.coachesvoice.com/cv/fernando-gago-analisis-racing/)
**Racing Club.** His Racing spell, from October 2021 to October 2023, produced 109 matches with 53 wins, 28 draws, and 28 losses, an average of 1.72 points per match.[6](https://canchallena.lanacion.com.ar/entrenador/fernando-gago-b3x0heaz2t4sl5qpabvlhr6d/) Eight months after arriving he extended his contract, and his cycle ended in September 2023.[4](https://es.coachesvoice.com/cv/fernando-gago-analisis-racing/) Commentators noted that among his criticisms was a perceived lack of pragmatism, although he won two finals against Boca during this period.[12](https://www.tycsports.com/boca-juniors/boca-fernando-gago-como-juegan-sus-equipos-estilo-id611013.html)
**Chivas and Boca Juniors.** In December 2023 Gago became manager of Chivas de Guadalajara in Mexico, where he stayed until October 2024.[4](https://es.coachesvoice.com/cv/fernando-gago-analisis-racing/) His departure caused controversy in Mexico: the club accused him of breaking a contract valid until December and of violating a two-million-dollar release clause, while Gago maintained he had acted correctly.[10](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2024-10-15/fernando-gago-vuelve-a-sus-inicios-ahora-como-entrenador.html) He then took over Boca Juniors in October 2024, appointed by club president [Juan Román Riquelme](https://www.edgepedia.org/juan-roman-riquelme) with the mission of lifting a team that had underperformed and whose previous coach, Diego Martínez, had resigned without winning a single title.[13](https://as.com/futbol/internacional/gago-genera-dudas-n/)
**Necaxa and Universidad de Chile.** Gago moved to [Club Necaxa](https://www.edgepedia.org/club-necaxa) in July 2025, averaging 1.00 points per match in 20 games before leaving in November 2025.[3](https://www.sofascore.com/football/manager/fernando-gago/795466) In March 2026 he became manager of Universidad de Chile in Chilean football.[3](https://www.sofascore.com/football/manager/fernando-gago/795466)
## Tactical style
Gago's teams are built on possession and boldness. At Racing Club his sides averaged more than 60% of ball possession, sought immediate recovery of the ball after losing it, and pressed high and aggressively after restarts, with the aim of taking the initiative as quickly as possible.[4](https://es.coachesvoice.com/cv/fernando-gago-analisis-racing/) His preferred formation is the 4-3-3, used both at Aldosivi and Racing, with the option of an inverted midfield triangle placing two holding midfielders behind an attacking midfielder.[3](https://www.sofascore.com/football/manager/fernando-gago/795466) • [4](https://es.coachesvoice.com/cv/fernando-gago-analisis-racing/)
In attack his Racing side followed positional-play principles: a build-up structure of the two center-backs and the holding midfielder, with both full-backs joining the attack simultaneously and only the center-backs and the midfielder providing preventive cover against a loss of possession.[4](https://es.coachesvoice.com/cv/fernando-gago-analisis-racing/) The "third man" concept was a recurring tool to escape rival pressure, and the team alternated between associated build-up and direct play behind the last line to exploit the pace of forwards such as Enzo Copetti, Tomás Chancalay, and Nicolás Oroz.[4](https://es.coachesvoice.com/cv/fernando-gago-analisis-racing/)
Defensively his teams use a 4-1-4-1 structure in all phases, with pressing schemes that vary by game situation, frequent marking exchanges between full-back and winger, and a holding midfielder responsible for reading play and covering defensive transitions.[4](https://es.coachesvoice.com/cv/fernando-gago-analisis-racing/) The style carries a known cost: when the press after a loss is bypassed, the advanced full-backs leave space that can force the center-backs and midfielder into defensive duels in wide areas.[4](https://es.coachesvoice.com/cv/fernando-gago-analisis-racing/) His teams generally keep their playing model regardless of the opponent rather than adapting it extensively.[4](https://es.coachesvoice.com/cv/fernando-gago-analisis-racing/)
At Boca he also drew attention for unconventional training methods, including having players such as [Edinson Cavani](https://www.edgepedia.org/edinson-cavani) and [Ander Herrera](https://www.edgepedia.org/ander-herrera) solve mathematical problems on paper during recovery sessions to train mental agility.[14](https://as.com/futbol/internacional/el-innovador-metodo-de-gago-en-boca-juniors-n/)
## 2026 heart attack and return
On 18 June 2026, after a match against O'Higgins, Gago was urgently hospitalized at the Clínica Alemana de Santiago with an acute myocardial infarction; he later said he had woken with discomfort he assumed was from coughing or sleeping badly and had not realized its seriousness.[7](https://www.tycsports.com/chile/futbol-de-chile/gago-infarto-volvio-dirigir-hablo-primera-vez-universidad-de-chile-id747361.html) He underwent surgery to restore blood flow to the heart, progressed favorably, and received hospital discharge on 23 June to continue recovery on an outpatient basis.[7](https://www.tycsports.com/chile/futbol-de-chile/gago-infarto-volvio-dirigir-hablo-primera-vez-universidad-de-chile-id747361.html) Less than two weeks after the operation he returned to the Universidad de Chile bench for a Copa Chile match against Unión La Calera, which the team lost 1–0, and spoke publicly about the episode for the first time, saying, "I had a blocked artery. I still cannot take in what happened to me".[7](https://www.tycsports.com/chile/futbol-de-chile/gago-infarto-volvio-dirigir-hablo-primera-vez-universidad-de-chile-id747361.html)
## References
1. [Fernando Gago – Historia y palmarés, Web oficial Real Madrid C.F.](https://www.realmadrid.com/es-ES/el-club/historia/leyendas-futbol/fernando-fernando-gago)
2. [Plantel profesional y Cuerpo técnico, Vélez Sarsfield](https://www.velezsarsfield.com.ar/futbol/plantel/perfil/125-fernandogago)
3. [Fernando Gago profile and stats, Sofascore](https://www.sofascore.com/football/manager/fernando-gago/795466)
4. [Fernando Gago: Variables tácticas, Coaches' Voice (18 October 2022)](https://es.coachesvoice.com/cv/fernando-gago-analisis-racing/)
5. [Fernando Gago, MLSsoccer.com](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/fernando-gago/)
6. [Fernando Gago – perfil y carrera como entrenador, Canchallena (La Nación)](https://canchallena.lanacion.com.ar/entrenador/fernando-gago-b3x0heaz2t4sl5qpabvlhr6d/)
7. [Gago volvió a dirigir y habló por primera vez después del infarto, TyC Sports (2 July 2026)](https://www.tycsports.com/chile/futbol-de-chile/gago-infarto-volvio-dirigir-hablo-primera-vez-universidad-de-chile-id747361.html)
8. [Guía Beijing 2008, Comité Olímpico Argentino](https://www.coarg.org.ar/guiadelegacion/guia%20beijing%202008.pdf)
9. [Quem é Fernando Gago, técnico que tentará tirar o Boca Juniors da crise, CNN Brasil](https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/esportes/futebol/futebol-internacional/quem-e-fernando-gago-tecnico-que-tentara-tirar-o-boca-juniors-da-crise/)
10. [Fernando Gago vuelve a sus inicios, ahora como entrenador, El País (15 October 2024)](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2024-10-15/fernando-gago-vuelve-a-sus-inicios-ahora-como-entrenador.html)
11. [Fernando Gago – estadísticas de club, Desde la Ventana](https://desdelaventana.com.ar/staff/fernando-gago/?print=pdf)
12. [Qué equipo puede esperar el hincha de Boca con Gago como DT, TyC Sports](https://www.tycsports.com/boca-juniors/boca-fernando-gago-como-juegan-sus-equipos-estilo-id611013.html)
13. [Gago genera dudas, AS (29 October 2024)](https://as.com/futbol/internacional/gago-genera-dudas-n/)
14. [El innovador método de Gago en Boca Juniors, AS](https://as.com/futbol/internacional/el-innovador-metodo-de-gago-en-boca-juniors-n/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of South America › Argentine men's footballers › Argentine midfielders*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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