On 2018, when the Mexican Soccer Team was in search of the replacement of Juan Carlos Osorio in the technical direction, they were carried out 24 interviews (15 personal and 9 telephone) with different coaches around the world to find the ‘ideal’ who would take the reins of the Tricolor.
Yon de Luisa, president of the Mexican Soccer Federation, boasted “the work” of Guillermo Cantú, Dennis Te Kloese and Gerardo Torrado, who were in charge of carrying out the polls to choose the new national strategist.
Without having a defined technical profile, it was learned that they looked for strategists of international stature such as Marcelo bielsa, André Villas Boas, Quique Sánchez Flores, Jurgen Klopp, Carlos Queiroz, Guus Hiddink, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Louis Van Gaal, Jürgen Klinsmann, José Pekerman and Mauricio Pochettino, among others; to the locals Ricardo Ferretti and Miguel Herrera.
The story ended with the appointment of Gerardo Martino –Who managed Atlanta United of the MLS, a club in which he was champion–, with a history of having failed in Barcelona and the Argentine team.
What’s this all about? To that it is not the first time that the directors of the Aztec football team put their eyes and their dreams on a world-class coach, beyond that except Cesar Luis Menotti, World Champion with Argentina in 1978, has been the only one with that label who has commanded the Tricolor.
PEP GUARDIOLA, OUT OF REACH
This week, Pep Guardiola announced that in 2023 he will leave Manchester City, as the next aspiration in his career is to lead a national team.
“After seven years at the club I have to take a break. See what has been done and think about my inspirations. A selection, yes. If the possibility is given, a selection is the next step.
“I have to stop to see what we have done, learn from other coaches and maybe take that path. I would like to train in one Eurocup, a Copa América or a world”, Expressed Pep.
Immediately began the musings about which national teams would be within Guardiola’s reach: Spain, Germany and Englandnaturally, they were the first to be put on the table.
Do youAnd Mexico? Regarding the economic issue, the Mexican Soccer Federation pays its coaches very well: Juan Carlos Osorio collected 3.8 million dollars in two years and nine months in his position, and he was the 13th highest paid coach of those who coached in the World Cup. Russia 2018.
However, Guardiola is fOut of economic and football reach for Mexico. Pep earns 23 million euros gross per year at Manchester City, he is the second highest paid in the world – below Diego Simeone-.
And although it is a reality that the coaches of national teams have perceptions lower than those of the clubs and they are hired by cycles, not by years as in the teams, Pep would not enter into the Tri’s budget either.
According to the Forbes magazine, Joachim Löw, with $ 15.4 million, was the highest paid in the last World Cup, followed by Didier deschamps, which in the end would be champion, with 14 million… Guardiola will be in that rank and up when he assumes a national team.
From the leadership of the Mexican National Teams there is a desire to renew Gerardo Martino until the 2026 World Cup, whatever happens next year in Qatar, although the Argentine asked for patience to finalize this agreement.
Guardiola will be free in 2023 and Guardiola knows Mexico and has filled him with praise: “How well soccer is played in Mexico, what a love for the game there is, what a love for life there is, how well you eat, how are people having so little. Mexico is a country fantastic, I have a lot of love for Mexico, “he said in an interview a few years ago.
Of these compliments to contemplate directing El Tri there is a stretch infinite, especially because Catalan will aspire to be World Champion or of a Eurocup.
I would like to, yes. Would fascinate. But no, Pep is not within reach.