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Mexico coach Aguirre resigns
Javier Aguirre ended his second stint as Mexico coach on Wednesday, resigning three days after his team were beaten 3-1 by Argentina in the second round of the World Cup in South Africa.
Mexico City: Javier Aguirre ended his second stint as Mexico coach on Wednesday, resigning three days after his team were beaten 3-1 by Argentina in the second round of the World Cup in South Africa.
"I have to leave, it`s the most honest thing to do," Aguirre told a news conference in Mexico City. Aguirre had set a target of reaching the quarter-finals but the Argentina defeat condemned Mexico, who last reached the last eight on home soil in 1986, to a second round exit for the fifth finals in succession.
Aguirre said he took "full responsibility" for Mexico`s exit.
"The plan was to qualify to the quarter-finals, be among the eight best (teams) in the world. Since this didn`t happen, the the team and I agreed that continuing was impossible," Aguirre said.
Mexican media said Aguirre`s most likely successor would be Mexican trainer Jose Manuel de la Torre, who guided Toluca to their 10th Mexican league title last month.
Aguirre`s first stint in charge of the national team came when he averted a qualifying catastrophe to take the side to the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, an experience which ended in the first knockout round after a loss to the United States. He took the helm again in April last year after previous coach Sven-Goran Eriksson resigned following the team`s qualifying round loss to Honduras. Aguirre helped resuscitate Mexico`s stumbling campaign.
Bureau Report
"I have to leave, it`s the most honest thing to do," Aguirre told a news conference in Mexico City. Aguirre had set a target of reaching the quarter-finals but the Argentina defeat condemned Mexico, who last reached the last eight on home soil in 1986, to a second round exit for the fifth finals in succession.
Aguirre said he took "full responsibility" for Mexico`s exit.
"The plan was to qualify to the quarter-finals, be among the eight best (teams) in the world. Since this didn`t happen, the the team and I agreed that continuing was impossible," Aguirre said.
Mexican media said Aguirre`s most likely successor would be Mexican trainer Jose Manuel de la Torre, who guided Toluca to their 10th Mexican league title last month.
Aguirre`s first stint in charge of the national team came when he averted a qualifying catastrophe to take the side to the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, an experience which ended in the first knockout round after a loss to the United States. He took the helm again in April last year after previous coach Sven-Goran Eriksson resigned following the team`s qualifying round loss to Honduras. Aguirre helped resuscitate Mexico`s stumbling campaign.
Bureau Report