Mexico turns to Javier Aguirre, Rafael Marquez
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José de Jesus Ortiz, Founder & Editor in Chief
- July 23, 2024
Javier Aguirre will guide Mexico to 2026 World Cup
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup two years away, the Mexican Futbol Federation has has turned to two El Tri greats. Javier Aguirre will return as the national team coach. The legendary Rafael Marquez will serve as an assistant coach through 2026 with the goal of taking over as head coach to build toward the 2030 Cup.
Aguirre, 65, has been hired to lead Mexico after El Tri’s disappointing performance in the recent Copa America. He is replacing Jaime Lozano, who exited only 13 months after he was hired.
FMF president Ivar Sisniega announced the hirings in a video released via social media by the FMF. Mexico is eager to rebound after a disastrous Copa America performance.
El Tri for Javier Aguirre
“The goal was to reach the (Copa America) semifinals and at least get out of the group stage,” Sisniega said. “We clearly failed in this. We didn’t meet the expectations. Certainly, the games were close and the scores could have been different.
“But the final results were below our expectations. If we want to build on what has been done well and what is left to improve, our analysis has to consider all the details of our participation and not just the scores.”
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To that end, Sisniega asked Mexican national team director Duilio Davino for a detailed report on El Tri’s Copa America performance. Davino evaluated Lozano’s coaching staff. He was also asked to note what needs to be improved ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Moreover, Davino also looked ahead toward the 2030 World Cup cycle. The United States, Mexico and Canada will co-host the 2026 World Cup. Unlike in Canada and the United States, however, soccer is Mexico’s No. 1 sport.
For better or worse, the Mexican psyche is wrapped around its national soccer team. The country practically shuts down when El Tri plays. The Mexican and the U.S. Soccer federations both fired their head men’s soccer coaches after disappointing Copa America performances.
The U.S. and Mexico both failed to advance out of the group stage in Copa America. Lozano officially left his role on July 16. It was clear he was gone several days earlier, though. The U.S. Federation fired Gregg Berhalter on July 10.
Vast experience for El Vasco
With 59 appearances for the Mexican national team as a player, Aguirre has a long and rich history with the Mexican national team. He played for El Tri in the 1986 World Cup, the second held in Mexico.
Aguirre, who is nicknamed El Vasco because his parents were born in Spain, guided Mexico to the 2002 World Cup. He was rehired to guide Mexico in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Marquez was a key player on both of those World Cup squads.
“The objectives and needs have always been clear for the national teams,” Davino said. “Thinking in the medium and long term, that’s why we identified the profiles that we know will take on the project.”
Davino outlined the characteristics he sought in the new coach. Professionalism and international and national coaching experience was prioritized. Knowledge of Mexican soccer and the Mexican soccer players’ profile and playing style was key.
Davino also sought maturity and strength to deal with pressure on the field and off and proven leadership. Javier Aguirre clearly meets those requirements.
Rafael Marquez assists
“Based on this criteria, we are very happy to announce the arrival of Javier ‘El Vasco’ Aguirre as technical director of the national team,” Davino said. “Without a doubt, he’s the Mexican national team coach with the best track record.
“He has a recognized career abroad and a profound knowledge of the process with the national soccer teams.”
Davino then praised Marquez’s track record. Marquez, who starred at Barcelona after leaving Mexico, is considered the greatest Mexican soccer player of his generation, if not all time. Only Real Madrid legend Hugo Sanchez had a career as decorated in European soccer as Marquez.
Marquez captained the Mexican national team for most of his international career. The former Atlas prodigy has been coaching since he retired as a player in 2018.
“It gives us great joy to share that Rafael Marquez is joining the coaching staff,” Davino said. “
José de Jesus Ortiz
Founder & Editor in Chief
Award-winning writer José de Jesus Ortiz, a former lead sports columnist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has covered Major League Baseball since 1997 in Los Angeles, St. Petersburg, New York and Houston. He was the first Latino to serve as president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
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