Marcelo René Bravo (born 10 January 1985) is a former Argentine football coach and former player who played as a midfielder. He is the current interim manager of Vélez Sarsfield, along with Hernán Manrique. Bravo played 50 games with Vélez Sarsfield, being a key member of the 2005 Clausura winning squad, and played for the Argentine U-20 national team before retiring at the age of 21 after discovering that he suffered from a cardiovascular hypertrophy. His illness is similar to the one that cost fellow footballer Antonio Puerta's life in 2007. Playing career Club Bravo only played at club level for Vélez Sarsfield in the Primera División Argentina. He started his professional career in 2003 and retired in 2006, immediately after the club's doctors discovered his illness. He played 16 games and scored 3 goals in Vélez' 2005 Clausura winning campaign, being a regular on the team's left wing. His last game came during the 2006 Apertura in a 6-0 victory over Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata, where he scored one goal. International Bravo was part of the Argentine under-20 squad that came third in the 2005 South American Youth Championship held in Colombia. He was a substitute in a team where, among others, played Lionel Messi. Post-playing career Immediately after retiring, Vélez offered Bravo a position in Miguel Ángel Russo's coaching staff. In an interview given in 2006 he stated: He then went on to coach in Vélez's youth divisions. On 26 February 2023, Bravo and Hernán Manrique were named interim managers of Vélez, after Alexander Medina left. Honours Primera División Argentina (1): 2005 Clausura See also Antonio Puerta References External links 1985 births Sportspeople from Buenos Aires Province Argentine footballers Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield footballers Argentine Primera División players Living people Association football wingers Argentine football managers Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield managers