CD Marathón has announced the signing of Argentine coach Pablo Lavallén, a former Liga MX player, as their new manager. Lavallén will take the reins starting with the upcoming Honduran Apertura Tournament.
The Honduran club made the announcement on social media, welcoming Lavallén and highlighting his impressive coaching career. His experience includes managing teams such as Colón, Belgrano, San Martín SJ, Melgar, and The Strongest. The club expressed its excitement to embark on this new chapter with him, emphasizing commitment, passion, and hard work.
Lavallén, who previously managed Olimpia – considered the top team in Honduras – replaces Uruguayan Manuel Keosseián. This is a significant appointment, as Marathón seeks to improve on their performance in the recently concluded Clausura Tournament, where they fell short of the final, won by Olimpia against Real España.
While Keosseián led Marathón to three of the club’s nine league titles since the league’s inception in 1965, the team is looking to Lavallén to bring a new dynamic and push for a championship this season. Lavallén is expected to join the team in San Pedro Sula at the end of June to begin preparations for the Apertura Tournament, tentatively scheduled to start on July 19th.
Before transitioning into coaching, Lavallén enjoyed a successful career as a player in the Liga MX. His journey began with River Plate, where he spent five years, winning three league titles and a Copa Libertadores. In 1996, at the age of 24, he moved to Mexico to join Atlas, where he spent over five years. He played alongside legendary players like Rafa Márquez, forming a formidable part of one of Atlas’s strongest squads before their back-to-back championship wins. The team narrowly missed the title in 1999, losing a penalty shootout to Toluca 5-4.
His Mexican journey continued with stints at Veracruz and San Luis, interspersed with returns to Huracán in Argentina. He even played for Coyotes de Sonora, an Atlas affiliate in the second division, further highlighting his extensive experience in Mexican football.
This move represents a significant opportunity for Lavallén to showcase his managerial prowess in Honduran football. With his extensive experience in both Liga MX and managing top Honduran teams, the expectations for his tenure at Marathón are undoubtedly high. The fans and the club are eagerly anticipating the start of the Apertura Tournament to see what Lavallén can bring to the table.
