It's somewhat excessive to call it football manager fashion. Segundo Castillo (43), the manager leading Ecuadorian club Barcelona SC, has caught fans' attention in South America with his 'bold fashion sense.'
South American media, including Argentina's "TyC Sports," reported on the 9th (Korean time) that Manager Castillo displayed a rarely seen fashion during a home match in the group stage of the 2025 Copa Libertadores B group, held at Ecuador's Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha.
On that day, Manager Castillo appeared in a striking outfit with a tuxedo embellished with a cheetah pattern and a bow tie for the match against River Plate (Argentina), capturing not only the spectators' attention but also the television broadcast cameras immediately.
Displaying a solemn expression with his hands in his pockets, Manager Castillo led the team as if walking on a red carpet, according to the media. His attire had already become a talking point on social media and local outlets before the match began.
In fact, Manager Castillo's style is not particularly surprising. He has showcased a distinctive fashion several times, completely breaking away from the traditional and conservative dress code of football managers.
Manager Castillo displayed boldness by wearing a white tuxedo with a bow tie and black pants during the qualifying match against Corithians (Brazil), which they won 3-0 in March.
What seemed like a simple event in Manager Castillo's fashion did not stop there. In the away match against River Plate on the 4th of April, he drew attention wearing an entirely bright pink tuxedo with a pink bow tie.
As Manager Castillo's fashion became a topic of discussion, local fans are increasingly expressing anticipation for what fashion he will showcase next.
Former center-back for the Ecuador national team, Castillo took over as Barcelona's head coach officially in October last year after serving as interim manager. His team is currently leading the Ecuadorian Serie A, having accumulated 24 points (8 wins, 2 losses) after 10 matches, and they are on a three-match winning streak.
Manager Castillo is recognized not only for his fashion but also for his leadership. However, his performance in the Copa Libertadores, which could be described as the club world cup of South America, has not been impressive.
On that day, Barcelona lost 2-3, leaving them with 1 win, 1 draw, and 2 losses after 4 matches, dropping to 3rd place in Group B (4 points). Barcelona aims to qualify for the round of 16 for the first time in four years since 2021, but it is uncertain whether they can secure a spot in the knockout stage, given the remaining two matches.
Meanwhile, Barcelona SC, established in 1925 and based in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and FC Barcelona (Spain) share a common name. However, they are separate independent football clubs with no direct ownership or operational relationship.
It is known that the name Barcelona was created out of affection for the founder's hometown city, Barcelona, by one of the club's founders, Eusebio Gamarra. In fact, the club's emblem closely resembles that of Barcelona, which was founded in 1899.
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