Just a day after firing Mexican legend Hugo Sanchez as head coach of the Mexican national team, the Mexican Football Federation has found his replacement and it is a familiar face to U.S. national team fans.
Former U.S. national team, D.C. United and Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena will be named the new head coach of the Mexican national team at a press conference in Mexico City on Tuesday. Arena will sign a contract that will run through the 2010 World Cup.
“Obviously it is a great opportunity to coach one of the best teams in the world,” Arena said. “I will have to learn some Spanish but I believe I’m the right man for this job.”
The surprising decision was made quickly on Monday evening, with Arena beating out Jose Pekerman for the position.
“After Hugo Sanchez’s tenure with the national team it was time for a new perspective, time for a coach with experience being successful with a national team,” Mexican federation president Justino Compean said. “We also felt that we needed a more modest approach and a more understated coach.”
April Fools!!!!!
Okay, so maybe it was easy to see this coming. If you actually believed the story don’t be afraid to admit it.
No, Bruce Arena is NOT the new Mexico coach. This is just an April Fool’s Day joke.
Apologies to anybody who had a heart attack or spit up their morning coffee upon seeing this. That includes you Bruce.
I was getting excited because then we would be guaranteed another 2-3 more good years of beating Mexico!
Haha, I have to admit I wasn’t fooled largely because we were joking about this last night, but the second picture still makes this post awesome.
HAHAHAHA!!! You totally got me there for a sec!!!
I started to question it when you had the comment that said they were looking for a more “modest” approach. “Modest” and “Bruce Arena” can never, ever be said in the same sentence. Kind of like “Landon Donovan” and “set of balls.”
no comment.
Good one! Had me for a second, but too obvious…
Good one! Had me for a second, but too obvious…
U got me for a minute there Ives
Nicely done.
Hook.
Line.
Sinker…
Until the sombrero pic.
Good on ya Ives.
Hey Ives,
I scooped you on this story. I demand you give me credit (check my post from yesterday on Hugo Sanchez’ firing). You’ll also see soon the announcement that John O’Brien will be named as his assistant at which time I hope you will again acknowledge my superior skills as an investigative blogger.
Just between us, I have a good source that says that the MLS is set to announce that the league is going to a promotion/relegation system with the USL.
I hate April Fool’s Day.
I love that picture of Bruce in the sombrero!
Fantastic! Ives, you took advantage of a great opportunity and really got me! Thanks a bunch!
You got me. Fantastic!!!
had me for like, .1 seconds
wow, i was shocked for a second there. ives, you totally got me.
wow, i was shocked for a second there. ives, you totally got me.
Admit it, you photoshopped that picture of Arena with the sombrero.
You definitely got me on this one. I actually thought that it wouldn’t be a bad choice for el Tri. I certainly worried that the US would have to change coaches since Arena knows BB far too well.
The big part would be that Mexico would basically be admitting that the US is now the dominant team in the region. I just don’t see that happening.
Hey folks, the joke wasn’t meant to say that Arena couldn’t do the job or wasn’t qualified. More that Mexico will NEVER hiring an American head coach. EVER.
Did I get you Christian? Nice. I was hoping to get a few Mexican national team fans.
LOL Ives…
I actually saw the link and thought about it for a second before clicking on it. HAHAHA that was great.
4now:
Another good option…
MLS announces that it and the USL have partnered together and agreed to adopt a promotion/relegation structure, all of these big moves headlined by John O’Brien.
I do like the dig at Donovan going abroad…they never really get old…
Congrats on one of the best April fools pranks I’ve fallen for in years. Very funny!
I, too, knew it was an April Fool’s joke. But I laughed good and long. Perfect timing! Sure hope someone posts it to BS!
hahaha. you have the advantage of not revealing your entire post from the home page. Well executed, Ives.
I started asking myself if Il Bruce had something as juicy on the mexican federation as Issiah Thomas has on MSG.
In all seriousness, he really wouldn’t be a bad choice for Mexico. The man is a veteran of two World Cups and it certainly would be a shock to Nats fans.
I started asking myself what do the Mexicans know about Bruce Arena that we don’t know?!
WOW! I hate to admit it, but you really got me on that one!!
was waiting for this : )
other options:
****
Donovan Signs With Valencia
****
Red Bull Park Progress Report
****
ESPN/ABC Search for New Soccer Announcers
Whenever Arena is next hired will be the real April Fool’s joke!
Wow…I was starting to think how bad that would be…I mean, Bruce knows almost every single player’s tendencies, and would probably use that knowledge for spite…
Great AF joke Ives..very many props for that one.
i saw that coming right away. nice one. that would be hilarious if it was true!
Ohhhhhhh Ives, you’re a cruel cruel man
AHHHH!!! Quickly, take down the April Fools part of the post, and lets see if other SBI readers can chip in some dough to buy Bruce a plane ticket to Mexico City and see if he actually goes down there.
nice joke….but it would be cool to see him really get the job.
AAAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA, AWESOME
I had this pegged – nice work though. I’ve had my defenses up all morning because of the folks I work with.
You’re not fooling anyone. Steve Sampson would have been more believable since he speaks Spanish.
You got me.
I swear I had already started to stuff the Bruce Arena doll that I would burn in effigy!
Wow… I pee’d on my leg a little after reading that one
Hahahaha, perfect. I admit you had me! Is that more embarrassing for me or for Arena??
wow, i was had.
I admit…I took the bait and my heart stopped.
B*stard! You got me.
Internet + April Fool’s = Interesting RSS Feeds
That would definitely be too good to be true. Nice one, Ives.
Oh to be able to see Bruce take on the Mexican media, one can only dream.
I knew you couldn’t resist a AF story, Ives. Good one
I knew it was an april fools joke before i hit the jump. But still my initial reaction could be heard around the office.
Great gag Ives!
Good one.
APRIL FOOLS DAY!