Soccer-Bronze bulge stands out as River Plate honour Gallardo

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Primera Division - River Plate v Rosario Central - Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires, Argentina - October 16, 2022 Marcelo Gallardo waves at fans after his last match as River Plate coach REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

(Reuters) -River Plate recognised Marcelo Gallardo as the most successful coach in the club's history with the unveiling of a statue at the weekend, but a prominent bulge in the crotch area of the huge bronze has attracted as much mockery as veneration.

The towering statue, which is eight metres tall and weighs 6.3 tonnes, stands outside the Monumental Stadium and depicts a famous image of Gallardo lifting one of the two Copa Libertadores trophies he won with the Buenos Aires club.