Ariel Holan · Biography

Ariel Enrique Holan was born on 14 September 1960 in Buenos Aires. Before reaching professional football he built a career as a field hockey coach, an unusual route for an Argentine manager that shaped his methods: careful planning, data analysis and training sessions heavy on tactical work. As a football head coach he has worked in Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Ecuador and Paraguay, and in 2017 he won the Copa Sudamericana with Independiente.

Field hockey beginnings

His first coaching years were in hockey. Between 1982 and 1987 he coached every age group at Club Alemán in Lomas de Zamora. He later took Banfield’s women’s team from the lower divisions up to the second tier and coached a Buenos Aires representative side. His most notable spell in the sport came with the Uruguay women’s national team, which he led to the bronze medal at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo.

Assistant coach in football

He moved into football as a member of coaching staffs. He worked alongside Jorge Burruchaga at Arsenal de Sarandí, Estudiantes de La Plata, Independiente and Banfield, returning with him to Arsenal in 2009-10. He was also part of Matías Almeyda’s staff at River Plate, who won the 2011-12 Primera B Nacional and regained their top-flight status, and stayed with Almeyda at Banfield, champions of the 2013-14 Primera B Nacional. In those years he became known as a specialist in opposition analysis and in the use of video and statistics.

Defensa y Justicia, first head coach job

In June 2015 Defensa y Justicia hired him as head coach, his first job in charge of a football team. The Florencio Varela club gave him room to apply his methods, and the side stood out for a pressing, possession-based game. He left on 14 November 2016 after a year and a half at the club.

Independiente and the Copa Sudamericana

On 29 December 2016 he took over at Independiente. With a young squad, the Avellaneda club reached the 2017 Copa Sudamericana final against Flamengo: they won the first leg 2-1 at home and drew 1-1 at the Maracanã on 13 December 2017. It was the 2017 Copa Sudamericana, the club’s first international trophy in several years. As champions they played the Suruga Bank Championship and won it on 8 August 2018, beating Cerezo Osaka 1-0 in Japan. Holan extended his contract during his tenure and agreed his departure on 30 June 2019.

Chile, Brazil and Mexico

On 12 December 2019 he was confirmed as Universidad Católica coach. He won the 2020 Chilean Primera División, a title sealed on 10 February 2021. A few days later, on 18 February, he left by triggering a clause in his contract, and on 22 February 2021 he was unveiled at Santos. His spell at the Brazilian club lasted twelve matches: he resigned on 26 April 2021. On 11 May that year he joined Mexican side León, with whom he won the 2021 Leagues Cup, beating Seattle Sounders 3-2 in the final. His resignation became official on 21 April 2022.

Return to Católica and Barcelona of Guayaquil

On 1 May 2022 he returned to Universidad Católica for a second spell, which ended on 22 July 2023. His next stop was Ecuador: on 27 April 2024 he was confirmed at Barcelona Sporting Club, where he worked until his contract was terminated on 10 October 2024.

Rosario Central and Cerro Porteño

Rosario Central announced him as head coach on 6 November 2024. With the Rosario club he won the 2025 Argentine league title, and his departure was announced on 11 December 2025. On 1 April 2026 he took charge of Cerro Porteño in Paraguay, leading them in the Copa Libertadores. His exit from the Asunción club was made official on 28 August 2026.