By JUSTIN FERGUSON
After a successful two-year stint as head coach, Antonio Mohamed appears to be on his way out at Club Tijuana.
Mohamed gave what sounded like a farewell press conference following the Xolos’ first leg draw with Atletico Minero in the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals on Thursday evening.
“It is sad to leave the team but like I said, I have to be with my kids,” he said. “I can’t get into what the team is going to do in the future and or if the team makes it to the semifinals. I need to focus on the next game in Brazil.”
The Argentinian was hired in September 2011 to help the small Mexican club avoid relegation. A year later, Tijuana celebrated the 2012 Apertura championship and a deep run in the Copa Libertadores.
Here are some more head coach stories making the rounds:
BENITEZ LINKED TO NAPOLI JOB
Reports out of Italy indicate Napoli have wasted no time in a replacement for Walter Mazzarri, and it appears former Chelsea interim manager Rafa Benitez will be on his way back to Serie A.
In an interview with Sky Italia on Friday, Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis unofficially confirmed Benitez would be the next manager at Napoli.
“Benítez is the new coach of Napoli,” de Laurentiis said. “I gave myself a birthday present. I’ll make it official in the next few days as he has to end his time at Chelsea, but he’ll be our new coach for the next two years.”
Benitez’s only other stint in Serie A was at Inter Milan, where he was fired less than five months after being hired as Jose Mourinho’s successor. Despite his success at the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup, Benitez had a falling out with club management as was fired two days before Christmas.
STRAMACCIONI OUT, MAZZARRI IN AT INTER MILAN
Speaking of Inter Milan, the storied Italian club has decided to make a quickfire managerial move after a disappointing ninth-place finish in Serie A.
Inter fired Andrea Stramaccioni early Friday after just one first full season as manager. The 37-year-old Italian, who was promoted to the head job in March 2013, was unable to replicate the late success that guided Inter to a sixth-place finish last season.
The club wasted no time in finding his replacement as former Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri was named the new manager just hours after reports of Stramaccioni’s firing first broke. Mazzarri has signed a two-year deal with Inter.
Mazzarri announced his resignation from the Napoli post following their season-ending 2-1 loss to AS Roma on Sunday. Second-place Napoli qualified for the UEFA Champions League twice and won the Coppa Italia once in Mazzarri’s three-season tenure.
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What do you make of these reports? Surprised at Mazzarri’s move to Inter? Think Benitez would be a good fit at Napoli? What’s next for Xolos?
Share your thoughts below.
i second that demotion.
Perhaps Arena to TJ? Just a thought
Would he want them? Maybe.
Would they want him? Probably not.
Mohamed has been great for the Xolos, they will miss him. But Ignacio Palou, the general manager is on a roll and I’m sure he will come up with someone that will keep the Xolos on their successful path, whether it be new talent or new manager.