CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE

ENRIQUE MERELAS

Persuaded Argentinian FA president Julio Grondona to hand the then largely unknown Pekerman his big break as coach of the national under-20 side in 1994.

EDUARDO URTASUN

Another member of the staff who has followed Pekerman throughout his career. Responsible for fitness and maintaining strict discipline within the camp, he courted controversy by barging Raheem Sterling off the pitch at half-time in the World Cup tie with England.

OSVALDO ZUBELDIA

Legendary Argentinian coach who convinced a despondent Pekerman to turn to coaching when his playing career was cut short at 28. “Osvaldo helped me in my toughest moment,” he recalls. “He invited me for coffee and made me see it wasn’t the end of the world.”

HUGO TOCALLI

Pekerman’s right-hand man who helped revolutionise Argentinian youth football in the mid-1990s. Under Pekerman and Tocalli, Argentina won three Under-20 World Cups – in 1995, 1997 and 2001 – before Pekerman was promoted to take charge of the senior side, and ex-goalkeeper Tocalli led the under-20s to another title at the 2007 World Cup in Canada.

CESAR LUIS MENOTTI

In the great dichotomy between Menotti and Carlos Bilardo that poisoned Argentinian football over the correct way to play the game, Pekerman borrowed the best from both schools. While his meticulous preparation methods were clearly influenced by Bilardo, his playing style leans more to the romantic idealism of Menotti.

NESTOR LORENZO

Joined Pekerman’s staff upon hanging up his boots and was picked as assistant when his boss accepted the Colombia job at the start of 2012. An ex-defender, he signed for English second-tier side Swindon Town just three months after playing in the 1990 World Cup Final for Argentina.