The Argentine Coach Behind the Dominican Dream Ahead of Clash With Costa Rica

Since taking over in early 2023, Gabriel Marcelo Neveleff has sparked a quiet revolution in Dominican football. The 61-year-old Argentine coach, known as “El Ruso,” has brought unprecedented success and ambition to a national team long considered an outsider. Under his leadership, the Dominican Republic qualified for its first-ever Gold Cup and has climbed into the top tier of the Concacaf Nations League.

Despite a narrow 3-2 defeat against Mexico in their tournament debut, Neveleff’s team earned praise for their performance. Now, they turn their attention to Costa Rica, whom they will face on Wednesday in the second Group A match. “We need to win our first game in a major international tournament,” Neveleff stated, adding that this is the right moment, while acknowledging the strength of both Costa Rica and Suriname.

A native of La Plata, Argentina, Neveleff has built a diverse coaching résumé across South America and the United States. He has worked at clubs like Wilstermann and Aurora in Bolivia, led youth academies in Florida, and even coached in Brazil, guiding Sete de Setembro to a historic promotion.

With a meticulous approach and a belief in tactical detail, Neveleff has made the Dominican Republic a more organized, attack-minded, and fearless squad. He prepares players with purpose — including staging camps in high-altitude cities to simulate conditions ahead of qualifiers — and believes in internal competition, always keeping two players per position.

As they gear up to face Costa Rica, the message is clear: this is no longer a team content with competing. With Neveleff at the helm, the Dominican Republic wants to win — and to be taken seriously on the international stage.