Javier ‘Vasco’ Aguirre He assured that his return to the Mexican team For the third time, it came at the best moment, as he arrives with great experience to lead the project towards the 2026 World Cup, where Mexico will be co-host with the United States and Canada.
On July 22, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) appointed ‘Vasco’ Aguirre as the national team’s technical director for the third time, replacing Jaime Lozano, who was dismissed on July 16, days after the team was eliminated from the Copa América in the group stage.
“I feel that it is time, after 22 years of wandering around, to return to my country and do something for it. I am in a good emotional and physical state, with a good background to contribute and join this national team project for the World Cup in Mexico,” said Aguirre in an interview published Tuesday by FMF.
“It’s difficult to say no to the Mexican national team if it doesn’t have a coach, if it was decided that the previous one wouldn’t continue, then it’s a fantastic opportunity for me to return to my country after being away for so long and to do so in a World Cup, so I think it’s something very important,” he added.
On the bench in 2002 and 2010
The 65-year-old coach, who was a member of the local team at the 1986 World Cup in his country, managed Mexico at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, where they were eliminated in the round of 16.
“There are two moments that have left a mark on me, failure in two World Cups, but that is in the past, I have learned from my mistakes and I will take the good things. Of course, in the preparation for the World Cup we will lose matches, that is part of a learning process, you have to be objective with defeats and with victories, but demanding because there is human material,” he said.
Under Aguirre, Mexico won the Gold Cup in 2009. In addition to the Mexican national team, he has also managed the Egyptian and Japanese teams. At club level, he has been in charge of Mexican clubs Monterrey, Pachuca and Atlante. In Spain, he has managed Mallorca, Leganés, Atlético de Madrid, Osasuna, Espanyol and Real Zaragoza, and was also the coach of Al-Wahda in the United Arab Emirates.
Aguirre’s first match in his third stint in charge of the Mexican national team will be on September 7 in a friendly match against New Zealand and three days later he will face Canada.
