Quick and blessed with a magic right foot, former Argentina international Gabriel Calderon boasts vast top-level experience going all the way back to the 1979 edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup. There the attacking midfielder combined with Diego Maradona in firing the team to victory on Japanese soil, three years before Calderon made the step up to the FIFA World Cup™ proper at Spain 1982. The set-piece specialist also made five appearances at Italy 1990 in La Albiceleste squad which reached the Final under Carlos Bilardo, only to lose 1-0 against Germany.

Since hanging up his boots and turning his hand to coaching, Calderon has been particularly successful in the Asian arena. He was at the Saudi Arabia helm when they achieved their best ever performance in FIFA World Cup qualifying for Germany 2006, finishing the campaign in their group’s top spot, unbeaten and ahead of regional heavyweights Korea Republic. Later on, following a spell in charge of the Oman national team, Calderon took the reins at Saudi club Al Ittihad, who in 2009 he led to domestic league glory and a runners-up berth in the Asian Champions League.

The respected supremo, who also works as a FIFA Instructor, first made his Technical Study Group bow seven years ago at the 2003 edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Playing career:
1977: Racing Club (ARG)
1978: Lanus (ARG)
1979-1981: Racing Club (ARG)
1981-1983: Independiente (ARG)
1983-1987: Real Betis (ESP)
1987-1990: Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
1991-1992: FC Sion (SUI)
1992-1993: Caen (FRA)
1993-1994: Lausanne (SUI)

Coaching career:
1997-2000: Caen (FRA)
2002-2003: Lausanne (SUI)
2004-2005: Saudi Arabia national team
2007-2008: Oman national team
2009-2010: Al Ittihad (KSA)