MEXICO CITY (AP) — Rafael Marquez is holding the reins of mexican national team. The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) announced on Wednesday that the former Barcelona star will replace Javier Aguirre as head coach until the 2019 tournament. 2030 world cup.
Marquez, 47, served as Aguirre’s assistant from August 2024 until the most recent match, which Mexico won 3-2. Lost to England in the round of 16. Succession plans had been in place since 2024, but there were rumors that FMF might look elsewhere.
“The appointment of Rafael Marquez is part of an orderly transition aimed at ensuring continuity, strengthening development and addressing future initiatives,” FMF said.
El Tri have no immediate fixtures scheduled, but Marquez is expected to make his managerial debut during the FIFA international competition period in late September to early October.
Coach Aguirre said of his successor, “I’m satisfied with the growth that Rafa has shown.” “I spoke to Rafa because we are both well-known figures in Mexican football, and I knew him both as a player and as a teammate, and he is more than qualified.”
FMF also expressed its gratitude to Coach Aguirre. Mexico’s campaign ended in the round of 16, a stage they have lost in eight of the past nine World Cups, but the team showed notable improvement after missing out on the group stages at Qatar 2022.
FMF said of Aguirre, who just completed his third World Cup cycle as Mexico’s national team coach, “He left behind a solid legacy of diligence, identity and competitiveness that strengthens the foundations for the next chapter of the national team.”
Marquez steps into the role with one of the most decorated careers in Mexican soccer history. As a player, he appeared in five World Cups, winning the 1999 Confederations Cup and the Gold Cup titles in 2003 and 2011.
In Europe, he played for Monaco and then had a legendary spell at Barcelona, winning two Champions League trophies and four La Liga titles. Domestically, his career began and ended with Atlas, where he won back-to-back Liga MX titles with Leon.
Marquez moved into coaching in Real Alcalá’s youth organization before going on to become a successful manager of Barcelona’s reserve team, Barça Atlétic, where he managed 82 games over two seasons, posting a record of 40 wins, 21 draws and 21 losses.
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