If you’ve watched a minute of Ecuadorian first tier football this season then you are already doing better than us.
Independiente del Valle sit top of the table, with giants Barcelona SC one point behind with a game in hand. Unbeaten in their last six, and spearheaded by former Lazio and Inter Milan forward Felipe Caicedo, Barcelona SC will be hoping to bring the Serie A trophy back to Guayaquil for an astonishing 17th time.
Segundo Castillo prowls the tactical area. He wouldn’t look out of place on the Mr. Olympia stage, but chose fútbol over front double biceps. He had loan spells in England with Everton and Wolves, and scored an impressive 9 goals in 87 games for Ecuador as an unyielding defensive midfielder.
However, Castillo’s recent fame and notoriety hasn’t stemmed from his football or managerial career, it’s from his impeccable dress sense on the sidelines.
He’s of average height, 1.79 meters to be precise, but weighs a whopping 94 kg, and he’s previously mentioned he arrives at the stadium over an hour before training so he can work out by himself before his team arrives.
His unique build combined with the year long average temperature of 32° provide a challenge when finding flattering, weather appropriate clothes.
“I’m more of a casual dresser. With the high temperatures here, I often wear shorts. But for events or matches, I try to look sharp,” Castillo told Forbes Ecuador.
“For us, the Conmebol Libertadores is our Champions League. So I think you have to rise to the level of the tournament and also to the club and my players. I have to present myself well so they see that their coach is sharp, it helps ease their nerves a bit,” he says.
“It’s important to relieve them of some of the tension, of what a player always wants to conquer, which is to win every game.”
Castillo’s philosophy worked a treat in the 3-0 triumph over Brazilian side Corinthians to seal qualification for the Libertadores back in March.
“I thought it was the right moment to make the guys smile when they saw me coming out of the locker room. Everyone just smiled and said ‘Wow!’ I felt good because I knew that match was special against a team where we weren’t the favorites. But we believed we could shock them, we have a great squad and a strong club with experience in this tournament.”
The suit that he wore that night was a creamy white tuxedo with a matching undercoat and a black bow tie, paired with skin-tight black suit trousers that looked likely to rip with any kick of frustration or leap of elation.
Castillo paid $400 for it, but to him and the supporters, Barcelona SC’s resulting qualification for the Libertadores was priceless. The pictures of him in the tuxedo also made it into Vogue.
The club are selling T-shirts to celebrate the suit that inspired the win against Corinthians, designed with the silhouette of a tuxedo with the phrase ‘Calle Pero Elegante’, translating to ‘street but elegant’.
Vístete como 𝐒𝐢𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 😎🔥
— BSCstore (@BSCSTOREoficial) March 31, 2025
📍Estadio Banco Pichincha #BSCStore #BarcelonaSomosTodos pic.twitter.com/zpRoa5CyGN
He hasn’t slowed down since then, with his catalogue of technical area outfits growing, including a bright pink suit, a leopard print suit and an all black tux with a white floral pattern. It was to everyone’s disappointment that he was absent from the 2025 Met Gala in New York, because if anyone embodies the theme of “Tailoring Black Style”, it’s the Ecuadorian.
Castillo has earned the right to show off his flashy threads.
“Growing up in San Lorenzo, Esmeraldas, we were poor. Sometimes no shoes. We played barefoot or shared shoes. Those hardships push you harder to achieve your goals and help your family.
“The football player has been a little, as they say, vain, extravagant, and if there’s the opportunity, sometimes you surround yourself with other types of players, from other countries, who carry a suitcase or a Louis Vuitton bag, which are more comfortable to wear, you like them, and sometimes you have the financial means to buy them.”
In his announcement video as the new Barcelona SC manager, he wore a black long sleeve shirt and trousers, a grey shirt vest and a flat cap.
When asked about this seemingly Peaky Blinders inspired outfit, Castillo’s appreciation and gratitude for his clothing was obvious.
“I bought those vests and the entire outfit when I was in Europe, and they’ve lasted because I take good care of them. When I played in England, for Everton and Wolverhampton, we had many activities with the team owners, and we always had to be well-dressed or wear the suits the club made for us for special events or matches. It’s a culture I developed.”
Barcelona SC sit on the brink of elimination in the Conmebol Libertadores, taking on league rivals Independiente del Valle next in a crucial six-pointer, so anticipate a phenomenal outfit from Segundo Castillo.
