Embattled Mexico dispense with Vucetich
© EFE
Mexico named their fourth coach in six weeks in a bid to save their FIFA World Cup™ qualifying campaign, hiring Miguel Herrera on Friday ahead of a last-chance playoff against New Zealand.
The Club America boss replaced Victor Manuel Vucetich, who was sacked two days after the team lost 2-1 to Costa Rica, a defeat that nearly ended their hopes of going to Brazil next year.
"We are in a crisis situation," Mexican Football Federation (FMF) President Justino Compean told a news conference. "We are saddened for the fans, saddened for club owners, saddened for our sponsors," he said, adding that Herrera would be presented at another press conference on Sunday.
Herrera, 45, coached America to their 11th title this year, his first as manager. The club, who currently sit top of the league, said Herrera was joining the national team on loan for the two-legged playoff against New Zealand.
Mexico's new manager inherits a team that have under-achieved despite a handful of European-based talent such as Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez and Villareal playmaker Giovani dos Santos.
Mexico have not missed the World Cup since 1990 and there were high hopes after they won the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
But Mexico only won two of their ten games in the final phase of the CONCACAF zone, scoring just seven goals while watching USA, Costa Rica and Honduras qualify for the World Cup.
Jose Manuel de la Torre was fired last month after the team's embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Honduras inMexico City's Azteca stadium, only their second home loss ever in a World Cup qualifier.
The next man in charge was his assistant, Luis Fernando Tena, who was let go after one game, a 2-0 defeat to the United States. Vucetich, who was hired on September 12, told ESPN.com that his sacking showed a "lack of respect."
He only had two games to turn things around, resulting in a 2-1 victory against Panama at home followed by the defeat in San Jose. Mexico only managed to advance to next month's playoff against New Zealand after the United States beat Panama, allowing the Mexicans to secure fourth place in their group.
Mexico will host the first game on 13 November before heading to New Zealand for the second leg on 20 November. Compean said the federation would meet after the playoff to determine whether Herrera keeps the job. He will face his first test in a friendly against Finland in San Diego, California, on October 30.