Following yesterday's announcements of coach Gustavo Álvarez's departure and player exits, Universidad de Chile officially appointed Francisco 'Paqui' Meneghini as new head coach and renewed key midfielder Charles Aránguiz's contract on Christmas Eve.
Building on Tuesday's restructuring moves—which included the exits of Álvarez, Nicolás Guerra, Lucas Di Yorio, and Ignacio Tapia—the club made two pivotal announcements on December 24, 2025.
Sports manager Manuel Mayo confirmed the board's unanimous vote for Francisco 'Paqui' Meneghini, recently departed from O'Higgins. Meneghini cited the lack of a timely renewal offer there: 'We reached the last week of competition without a renewal offer.' He thanked O'Higgins fans and players for their support.
Simultaneously, Universidad de Chile extended Charles Aránguiz's contract, set to expire December 31. The former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder featured in 25 Primera División matches this season, scoring six goals and assisting four. 'There's a good relationship with the management... I'm staying here,' Aránguiz said post-match. The club praised his 'quality, experience, and passion' for the upcoming challenges.
This renewal complements recent extensions for Marcelo Díaz, Israel Poblete, and Fabián Hormazábal, plus Javier Altamirano's continuity, bolstering the core ahead of the 2026 season and Copa Sudamericana.
