By DAN KARELL
The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) liked enough of what they saw from Miguel Herrera to decide against finding what would have been the fifth coach of the Mexican national team since September.
Following a meeting of the Liga MX owners, many of whom make up the board of directors of the FMF, national team director Héctor González Iñarritu announced that Herrera would take over as head coach on a permanent basis when his season ends with Club America. In addition, Herrera is expected to work not just through the World Cup next summer in Brazil but also possibly through the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“The proposal of Miguel Herrera as Mexico head coach and the incorporation of Ricardo Pelaez (as sporting director) was accepted in the (owners meeting),” González Iñarritu told reporters at a press conference following the meetings. “Here (the) contracts are open, there is no expiration date. I’ll talk with Miguel to review the planning and objectives. The plan is to start the project Miguel Herrera Brazil 2014 and continue with the coaching staff (through 2018).”
González Iñarritu also revealed that in addition to the scheduled match on Jan. 29 against South Korea and the FIFA date on March 5, Herrera will have five games between May 12, when they open World Cup camp, and the start of the World Cup on June 12, to further get to know his players and grow the chemistry within the squad.
Herrera was originally appointed interim head coach of El Tri on Oct. 18 in a bizarre case that essentially involved him and Peleaz being loaned to the national team from America until after the World Cup qualifying playoffs series against New Zealand finished. Herrera led a solely domestic-based side that including many members of his America squad to a 9-3 aggregate victory, earning a place at the World Cup in Brazil.
“El Piojo” Herrera is the third head coach of El Tri since the FMF sacked Jose Manuel “Chepo” de la Torre following an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Estadio Azteca against Honduras. De La Torre’s assistant coach, Luis Fernando Peña lasted just one match before he was replaced by former Monterrey title winner Victor Manuel Vucetich.
The veteran coach only lasted two games as El Tri only earned a place in the CONCACAF-Oceania playoff match by the skin of their teeth, thanks to two goals from the U.S. Men’s National Team in Panama to knock out Los Canaleros from contention.
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What do you think of this selection? Think Herrera was the correct choice? Believe that Herrera can lead Mexico into the knockout stages? Think there’s any chance that Herrera is still El Tri head coach come 2018?
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