Berizzo managed in the top leagues of Argentina, Chile and Spain, leading O'Higgins to their first major honours and taking charge of three La Liga teams including Celta. He was also head coach of the national teams of Paraguay and Chile, going to two Copa América editions with the former.
In 1993, as Newell's sought to renew their team and transfers to Sporting de Gijón and Udinese Calcio in Europe did not materialise, Berizzo signed for Mexico's Club Atlas under Bielsa. Arriving with a knee injury, he adapted to the country's heat and altitude and became captain. After three seasons that he described as "not good but excellent", he was about to sign a five-year contract extension when an offer came through from Club Atlético River Plate in his country; club president Francisco Ibarra retired his number 2 jersey for the rest of his term.[3]
River Plate and Marseille
At River, Berizzo played in central defence alongside Paraguayan Celso Ayala in a team that won three consecutive league tournaments and the 1997 Supercopa Libertadores.[3] His solid performances eventually attracted the attention of French club Olympique de Marseille, who signed him in July 1999 on a three-year deal for a fee of 20 million francs (€3 million) to replace 1998 FIFA World Cup winner Laurent Blanc.[7] After a 5–1 loss at AS Saint-Étienne on 11 December, he argued with new manager Bernard Casoni; unsettled and out of form, he was loaned to his former team in January 2000.[8]
Known initially as "Totito", Berizzo inherited the nickname "Toto" from his father, who died in a car accident in March 2000 after watching him play for River against Club Universidad de Chile in the Libertadores. He won another Clausuratournament that year.[3]
In the 2003–04 campaign, Berizzo was sent off four times, twice in the last two rounds, as Celta eventually dropped down a level. He also made five appearances in a round-of-16 run in European competition, eventually losing his importance and being released in June 2005 at nearly 36.[11]
Berizzo's last international took place on 15 November 2000, in the 2002 World Cup qualifier against Chile, appearing seven minutes in a 2–0 away win. He broke his ankle in February 2002, completely ruling him out of the final stages in South Korea and Japan.[15]
Coaching career
Early years
When Bielsa took over as Chile manager in July 2007, Berizzo became assistant manager. On 10 October 2009, in a World Cup qualifier against Colombia (4–2 away victory), he was ejected alongside Fabián Orellana and eventually received a four-match ban, not being present on the bench for the entirety of the final stages in South Africa.[16]
On 7 February 2011, Berizzo was hired in his own right at Argentine defending champions Estudiantes de La Plata, after the resignation of Alejandro Sabella.[17] His first game four days later was a 2–1 home win over his former club, Newell's.[18] He resigned on 30 May after a poor run of form, including elimination from the Copa Libertadores by Paraguay's Cerro Porteño in the last 16.[19]
On 10 December 2013, Berizzo led the team from Rancagua to the 2013 Apertura, the first title in their 58-year history.[22] The following 3 May, they won the Supercopa de Chile against Deportes Iquique, again on penalties;[23] he had already agreed that this would be his last game.[24]
Berizzo was confirmed as the new manager of Sevilla FC on 27 May 2017, replacing countryman Jorge Sampaoli who accepted the Argentina job.[27] On 22 November, it was announced he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer;[28] a month later, he was fired due to a poor run of results.[29] Much of his short time at the club was recorded in the Amazon Prime television documentary series Six Dreams, in which he was one of its stars.[30]
Berizzo returned to active on 31 May 2018, being appointed at Athletic Bilbao.[31] After winning only two of his 15 competitive matches in charge and with the team in the relegation zone, he was dismissed.[32]
Paraguay
On 18 February 2019, Berizzo was named Paraguay's new coach after Juan Carlos Osorio's resignation.[33] At the year's Copa América in Brazil, he led the team to the quarter-finals where they were eliminated on penalties after a goalless draw with the hosts.[34]Two years later, the national side fell at the same stage on the same method against Peru.[35]
Berizzo did not win until his eighth game, a 3–2 exhibition win over Paraguay on 28 March 2023.[40] Having taken one win and two draws from the first five games of 2026 FIFA World Cupqualification, he resigned on 17 November 2023.[41]
León
On 7 September 2024, Mexican club León announced Berizzo as their new head coach.
Remarks on homosexuality
Shortly after leaving Marseille, Berizzo spoke out against alleged homosexuality in France:
"A bunch of faggots is what you have in French football. There are so many homosexual players there, they always provoke you, they touch your thighs, your bum, to see if you will give some kind of signal. I feel disgusted when a homosexual shares the same shower and stares at one's bum with desire, and even gets emotional when you are naked."
— Berizzo quoted in a Daily Telegraph article.[42]
The day after that quote was published by Mexican newspaper La Crónica de Hoy, he denied having said that:
"It is an outrage. This is serious. That note never existed. I have no problem with having a gay colleague. People can do whatever they want to do with their private life."
^Duffau, Pedro; Gambino, Leandro; López Aspuru, Marcelo (19 June 2020). "Newell's, a 12 pasos de la gloria" [Newell's, 12 steps from glory] (in Spanish). El Equipo. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
^Lendvai, Miklos (12 November 2010). "Top 10: les successions manquées" [Top 10: the failed replacements] (in French). Cahiers du Football. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
^Ros, Cayetano; Villalba, Juan M. (10 February 2001). "Bisabuelos por doquier" [Great-grandparents everywhere]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 December 2022.
