Javier Aguirre
Encyclopedia
Javier Aguirre Onaindía (born December 1, 1958 in Mexico City
), popularly nicknamed El Vasco (The Basque), is a Mexican
football manager and former midfielder
. He was also a member of the Mexico national team
and later became manager in two different occasions, but resigned after the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He is currently the manager of La Liga
Spanish club Real Zaragoza
.
, where he won several championships, including a final against CD Guadalajara
, in which he scored a goal. He also played outside Mexico with CA Osasuna
in Spain
and the Los Angeles Aztecs
in the United States
.
He made 59 appearances for the Mexico national team
between 1983 and 1992, scoring 13 goals. He played in the FIFA World Cup
in 1986
and was sent off in the quarter-final defeat by West Germany.
and then Club Pachuca, where he won the Invierno championship in 1999.
as the manager of Mexico due to poor results. That same year, he managed them in the Copa América 2001
, but lost 1–0 in the final against host nation Colombia
. In 2002, he managed them in the 2002 FIFA World Cup
.
in the Spanish La Liga
, where he has been one of the most consistent coaches in the past years, mostly due to the achievement of all the goals he sets. After being hired to save Osasuna in 2002, he did so and stayed with the team until 2006, when he earned them a spot in the Champions League 3rd Qualifying Phase, culminating in entry to the UEFA Cup.
. The second year's goal (2007–08) was a more ambitious one: the Champions League
. After an irregular season, Atlético earned a ticket to the UEFA Champions League
under Aguirre's command.
On 2 February, Spanish sports newspaper Marca reported that Aguirre would be replaced by ex-Atlético goalkeeper and CD Castellón
manager Abel Resino
. The club cited Atlético's recently lacking performance in the new year as reasons for Aguirre's dismissal (Atlético had not won a single game in 2009, up to that point). While most of the club felt his dismissal was necessary, some see his departure as unfair since Aguirre elevated the club to a level it had not seen in almost 14 years.
after the poor performance of Sven-Göran Eriksson
. Many believe that Eriksson was the scapegoat to be blamed because of Mexico's recently weak team, but brought average results for Mexico. He was officially presented as Mexico manager in a press conference on 16 April 2009. At the press conference, he stated: "I add, gentlemen, that I want the player who comes, come with pride, to recover the identity that comes with our love for the shirt" and that a call-up "is a reward and not a punishment, that we're all here because it is a prize for our careers." His annual salary was US$1.635.000.
On 6 June 2009, Aguirre debuted in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
against El Salvador
, losing 2–1. However, he rebounded four days later with a 2–1 win over Trinidad and Tobago
.
On 9 July 2009, Aguirre was ejected in an incident during the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
match versus Panama
. During a play along the sideline, Aguirre kicked Panamanian player Ricardo Phillips
, triggering Phillips to push Aguirre, causing ejections for both Aguirre and Phillips and delaying the match for over 10 minutes due the refusal of the player from Panama to leave the field. Aguirre apologized to the Mexican fans, media, football players and staff, but never extended such courtesy to Philips or the Panamanian team. He was suspended for three games and the Mexican Football Federation
was fined USD $25,000 by CONCACAF
.
On 26 July 2009, Aguirre led Mexico to its fifth Gold Cup
title and its first win against the United States
outside of Mexico since 1999. He then led Mexico to a comeback win over the same opposition at the Estadio Azteca
on August 12, 2009 and followed it up by winning 3–0 in Costa Rica
, putting Mexico closer to a qualifying spot for the World Cup that seemed to be an impossible task at the time when Eriksson was sacked. On 10 October 2009, Mexico beat El Salvador in the Estadio Azteca 4–1, qualifying Mexico for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
.
On 30 June 2010, Aguirre resigned as coach of Mexico following their failure to reach the quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
in South Africa. Mexico finished second in Group A
, ahead of hosts South Africa
and France
, but their progress was halted in the second round
where they were defeated 3–1 by Argentina
.
on November 17, 2010, he was presented in a press conference the following day
. In particular, his insistence on playing team-less striker Guillermo Franco
while keeping Manchester United
striker Javier Hernández on the bench bewildered many fans and commentators. The 33 year-old Franco played poorly and failed to score a goal, while the 22 year-old Hernández scored two goals, in the 2–0 victory over France and in the 3–1 second-round loss to Argentina (in which Hernández did start the match). Aguirre also came under fire for, among other things, leaving Toluca's creative midfielder Zinha
out of the squad; for cutting 20 year-old Barcelona
midfielder Jonathan Dos Santos
(brother of Giovanni Dos Santos) at the last moment, while the team was already training abroad, and keeping veteran Adolfo Bautista
on the squad; for starting the 37 year-old Oscar Perez
in goal instead of regular starter Guillermo Ochoa
; for starting the 37 year-old Cuauhtemoc Blanco
in the 1–0 loss against Uruguay; for rotating the captain's armband among three different players (Rafael Marquez
, Gerardo Torrado
and Blanco); for starting Bautista in the second-round match against Argentina; for using the speedy and talented winger Pablo Barrera
strictly as a replacement; for relegating Deportivo La Coruña
midfielder Andres Guardado
to the bench and replacing him in the two games he did start; and for choosing Ricardo Osorio
as a central defender over the younger Hector Moreno
(Osorio was responsible for a crucial error in the match against Argentina that directly led to Argentina's second goal).
Aguirre also came under criticism for his refusal to explain these personnel decisions. This has led to the proliferation of rumors in Mexico concerning the various ulterior motives, Aguirre's and others', that led to these decisions, including the financial interests of the two major Mexican TV stations, Televisa
and TV Azteca
, as well as those of various soccer promoters and of the owners of Mexico's first-division teams, who wield enormous influence over the Mexican national team (nor was it made clear to the public what role was played by Aguirre's assistant Mario Carrillo
, who was supposedly in charge of Mexico's tactical work). During the run up to the World Cup Aguirre expressed his desire to coach in the Premier League in England but he received no offers.
Atlético Madrid
México
| 1. || 15 March 1983 || Estadio Nacional, San José
, Costa Rica
|| || 1–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 2. || 22 March 1983 || Estadio Azteca
, Mexico City
, Mexico
|| || 1–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 3. || 25 October 1983 || Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
, Los Angeles
, United States
|| || 5–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 4. || 24 January 1984 || Estadio Sergio León Chavez
, Irapuato
, Mexico || || 3–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 5. || 16 August 1984 || Helsinki Olympic Stadium
, Helsinki
, Finland
|| || 3–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 6. || 22 August 1984 || Malmö Stadion
, Malmö
, Sweden
|| || 1–1 || Draw || Friendly
|-
| 7. || 4 December 1984 || Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States || || 3–2 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 8. || 2 June 1985 || Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico || || 1–1 || Draw || 1985 Mexico City Cup
|-
| 9. || 17 November 1985 || Estadio Cuauhtémoc
, Puebla
, Mexico || || 1–1 || Draw || Friendly
|-
| 10. || 19 February 1986 || Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico || || 1–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 11. || 13 April 1986 || Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States || || 1–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 12. || 27 April 1986 || Estadio Azul
grana, Mexico City, Mexico || || 3–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 13. || 14 February 1988 || Estadio del Ejército
, Guatemala City
, Guatemala
|| || 3–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 14. || 8 March 1992 || Estadio Azulgrana, Mexico City, Mexico || || 4–0 || Win || Friendly
|}
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
), popularly nicknamed El Vasco (The Basque), is a Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
football manager and former midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. He was also a member of the Mexico national team
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
and later became manager in two different occasions, but resigned after the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He is currently the manager of La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
Spanish club Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
.
Playing career
Aguirre played for a number of clubs in Mexico, including Club AméricaClub América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
, where he won several championships, including a final against CD Guadalajara
C.D. Guadalajara
Club Deportivo Guadalajara , is a Mexican professional football club based in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Guadalajara plays in the Primera División de México and is the most successful club in Mexican football, having won 11 First Division titles, 7 Campeón de Campeones and 2 Copa México...
, in which he scored a goal. He also played outside Mexico with CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and the Los Angeles Aztecs
Los Angeles Aztecs
The Los Angeles Aztecs were a soccer team that competed in the North American Soccer League from 1974-81. The team was based in Los Angeles, California and part-owned by Elton John.-History:...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
He made 59 appearances for the Mexico national team
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
between 1983 and 1992, scoring 13 goals. He played in the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
in 1986
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
and was sent off in the quarter-final defeat by West Germany.
Early years
After retiring as a player, he took up managing, first with AtlanteAtlante F.C.
Club de Fútbol Atlante, is a Mexican professional football club, currently playing in the Mexican First Division League. The club is based in Cancún, Mexico as of the start of the 2007-08 season, when they relocated from Mexico City, and plays its home games in Estadio Andrés Quintana Roo.-Domestic...
and then Club Pachuca, where he won the Invierno championship in 1999.
Mexico
In 2001, he replaced Enrique MezaEnrique Meza Enriquez
Enrique Meza Enríquez is a long-standing Mexican football coach and technical manager. Prior to being coach, he was a professional footballer, playing as the goalkeeper for Cruz Azul, retiring in 1976. Popularly nicked-named "Ojitos" because of his sharp eyes, he was the substitute for Miguel...
as the manager of Mexico due to poor results. That same year, he managed them in the Copa América 2001
Copa América 2001
The Copa América 2001 was held in Colombia, from July 11 to July 29, 2001. It was organised by CONMEBOL, South America's football governing body....
, but lost 1–0 in the final against host nation Colombia
Colombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
. In 2002, he managed them in the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
.
Osasuna
Aguirre was then hired to coach CA OsasunaCA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
in the Spanish La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, where he has been one of the most consistent coaches in the past years, mostly due to the achievement of all the goals he sets. After being hired to save Osasuna in 2002, he did so and stayed with the team until 2006, when he earned them a spot in the Champions League 3rd Qualifying Phase, culminating in entry to the UEFA Cup.
Atlético Madrid
This overwhelming success on such a small budgeted team earned him the spot on Atlético Madrid's bench. In the first season (2006–07), his task was to get the team back in a European competition and he did so by putting Atlético in the UEFA CupUEFA Cup 2007–08
The 2007–08 UEFA Cup was the 37th edition of the UEFA Cup, UEFA's second tier club football tournament. The final was played at the City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester, England on 14 May 2008 between Rangers of Scotland and Zenit St. Petersburg of Russia. Zenit won the match 2–0, with...
. The second year's goal (2007–08) was a more ambitious one: the Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. After an irregular season, Atlético earned a ticket to the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League 2008–09
The 2008–09 UEFA Champions League was the 54th edition of Europe's premier club football tournament and the 17th edition under the current UEFA Champions League format. The final was played at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on 27 May 2009. It was the eighth time the European Cup final has been held in...
under Aguirre's command.
On 2 February, Spanish sports newspaper Marca reported that Aguirre would be replaced by ex-Atlético goalkeeper and CD Castellón
CD Castellón
Club Deportivo Castellón, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Castellón de la Plana, in the Valencian Community. Founded in 1922, it currently plays in Tercera División – Group 6, holding home games at Nou Estadi Castalia, which has a capacity of 16,000.-History:Football first appeared in...
manager Abel Resino
Abel Resino
Abel Resino Gómez , sometimes just Abel, is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and a current coach....
. The club cited Atlético's recently lacking performance in the new year as reasons for Aguirre's dismissal (Atlético had not won a single game in 2009, up to that point). While most of the club felt his dismissal was necessary, some see his departure as unfair since Aguirre elevated the club to a level it had not seen in almost 14 years.
Return to Mexico
On 3 April 2009, Aguirre was officially appointed as the new manager of the Mexico national teamMexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
after the poor performance of Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson , in Sweden commonly referred to just by his nickname Svennis, is a Swedish ex-football manager. From October 2010 to October 2011 he managed Football League Championship side Leicester City....
. Many believe that Eriksson was the scapegoat to be blamed because of Mexico's recently weak team, but brought average results for Mexico. He was officially presented as Mexico manager in a press conference on 16 April 2009. At the press conference, he stated: "I add, gentlemen, that I want the player who comes, come with pride, to recover the identity that comes with our love for the shirt" and that a call-up "is a reward and not a punishment, that we're all here because it is a prize for our careers." His annual salary was US$1.635.000.
On 6 June 2009, Aguirre debuted in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
The qualification competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 32 places at the tournament...
against El Salvador
El Salvador national football team
El Salvador's national football team represents El Salvador in international football and is sanctioned by the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol . In 1899, Santa Ana and San Salvador met for the first hosted football game in El Salvador...
, losing 2–1. However, he rebounded four days later with a 2–1 win over Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...
.
On 9 July 2009, Aguirre was ejected in an incident during the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the tenth edition of the Gold Cup competition, and the twentieth association football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was contested from 3 July to 26 July 2009 in the United States. This competition was the fourth tournament...
match versus Panama
Panama national football team
The Panama national football team is the national team of Panama and is controlled by the Panamanian Football Federation. Panama reached the 2006 World Cup CONCACAF Final Round in the qualifiers and finished as runners-up at the final game of the 2005 Gold Cup...
. During a play along the sideline, Aguirre kicked Panamanian player Ricardo Phillips
Ricardo Phillips
Ricardo Phillips is a football midfielder. He currently plays in Panama for the Liga Panameña de Fútbol team San Francisco FC.-International career:...
, triggering Phillips to push Aguirre, causing ejections for both Aguirre and Phillips and delaying the match for over 10 minutes due the refusal of the player from Panama to leave the field. Aguirre apologized to the Mexican fans, media, football players and staff, but never extended such courtesy to Philips or the Panamanian team. He was suspended for three games and the Mexican Football Federation
Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación
The Mexican Federation of Football is the governing body of association football in Mexico. It administers the Mexican national team, the Mexican league and all affiliated amateur sectors, and is in charge of promoting, organizing, directing, spreading, and supervising competitive football in Mexico...
was fined USD $25,000 by CONCACAF
CONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football is the continental governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean...
.
On 26 July 2009, Aguirre led Mexico to its fifth Gold Cup
2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the tenth edition of the Gold Cup competition, and the twentieth association football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was contested from 3 July to 26 July 2009 in the United States. This competition was the fourth tournament...
title and its first win against the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
outside of Mexico since 1999. He then led Mexico to a comeback win over the same opposition at the Estadio Azteca
Estadio Azteca
Estadio Azteca is a stadium in Santa Ursula, Mexico City, Mexico. It is the official home stadium of the Mexico national football team and the Mexican team Club América.The stadium was the venue for football soccer in the 1968 Summer Olympics....
on August 12, 2009 and followed it up by winning 3–0 in Costa Rica
Costa Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
, putting Mexico closer to a qualifying spot for the World Cup that seemed to be an impossible task at the time when Eriksson was sacked. On 10 October 2009, Mexico beat El Salvador in the Estadio Azteca 4–1, qualifying Mexico for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
.
On 30 June 2010, Aguirre resigned as coach of Mexico following their failure to reach the quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
in South Africa. Mexico finished second in Group A
2010 FIFA World Cup Group A
Group A of the 2010 FIFA World Cup began on 11 June and ended on 22 June 2010. The group consisted of France, Mexico, Uruguay and the host nation South Africa. France and South Africa previously met at the 1998 FIFA World Cup; France beat South Africa 3–0. France and Uruguay previously met at the...
, ahead of hosts South Africa
South Africa national football team
The South Africa national football team represents South Africa in association football and is controlled by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. South Africa's home ground is Soccer City, known as FNB Stadium due to a naming rights deal, in...
and France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
, but their progress was halted in the second round
2010 FIFA World Cup knockout stage
The knockout stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup was the second and final stage of the World Cup, following the group stage. It began on 26 June with the round of 16 matches, and ended on 11 July with the final match of the tournament held at Soccer City, Johannesburg, in which Spain beat the...
where they were defeated 3–1 by Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
.
Real Zaragoza
Aguirre was named manager of Real ZaragozaReal Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
on November 17, 2010, he was presented in a press conference the following day
2010 World Cup controversy
Aguirre's decision-making during the qualifying stages and especially during the World Cup grew increasingly controversial, with the ESPN broadcaster José Ramón Fernández calling him the worst coach in the World Cup after France's Raymond DomenechRaymond Domenech
Raymond Domenech is a retired French footballer and the former manager of the France national team.-2006 World Cup:On 12 July 2004, Domenech was a surprise choice to succeed Jacques Santini after the country's disappointing exit from UEFA Euro 2004 by losing in the quarter-final match to the...
. In particular, his insistence on playing team-less striker Guillermo Franco
Guillermo Franco
Guillermo Luis Franco Farquarson is an Argentine-born Mexican football striker who plays for Vélez Sársfield. He also played for the Mexico national team, until his international retirement in September 2010.-Early life:...
while keeping Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
striker Javier Hernández on the bench bewildered many fans and commentators. The 33 year-old Franco played poorly and failed to score a goal, while the 22 year-old Hernández scored two goals, in the 2–0 victory over France and in the 3–1 second-round loss to Argentina (in which Hernández did start the match). Aguirre also came under fire for, among other things, leaving Toluca's creative midfielder Zinha
Ântonio Naelson
Antônio Naelson Matias , also known simply as Sinha is a Mexican football midfielder, who plays for Club Toluca in the Mexican First Division.-Biography:...
out of the squad; for cutting 20 year-old Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
midfielder Jonathan Dos Santos
Jonathan dos Santos
Jonathan dos Santos Ramírez is a Mexican football who plays as a central or defensive midfielder for FC Barcelona B. He has also been called up to the Mexican national team.-Early life:...
(brother of Giovanni Dos Santos) at the last moment, while the team was already training abroad, and keeping veteran Adolfo Bautista
Adolfo Bautista
Adolfo "El Bofo" Bautista Herrera is an Attacking Midfielder/Forward who currently plays for Querétaro F.C. of Mexico.-Beginnings:...
on the squad; for starting the 37 year-old Oscar Perez
Óscar Pérez Rojas
Óscar "El Conejo" Pérez Rojas is a Mexican football goalkeeper who currently plays for the Mexican team San Luis. Pérez Rojas stands at 5'8 and weights 165 pounds....
in goal instead of regular starter Guillermo Ochoa
Guillermo Ochoa
Francisco Guillermo Ochoa Magaña is a Mexican goalkeeper who currently plays for French Ligue 1 club Ajaccio. He also plays for the Mexican national football team.-América:...
; for starting the 37 year-old Cuauhtemoc Blanco
Cuauhtémoc Blanco
Cuauhtémoc Blanco Bravo is a Mexican professional footballer currently signed for Irapuato in the Mexican Liga de Ascenso.Known for his aggressive yet charismatic personality on the field, playing most of his career as a deep-lying forward and his last years as an attacking midfielder...
in the 1–0 loss against Uruguay; for rotating the captain's armband among three different players (Rafael Marquez
Rafael Márquez
Rafael Márquez Álvarez is a Mexican footballer who plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer and the Mexico national team. He plays as a centre back or defensive midfielder....
, Gerardo Torrado
Gerardo Torrado
Gerardo Torrado Diez de Bonilla is an international Mexican football player, currently playing as a midfielder for Cruz Azul and is captain of the team. He is known as "El Borrego" for his bushy-like hair...
and Blanco); for starting Bautista in the second-round match against Argentina; for using the speedy and talented winger Pablo Barrera
Pablo Barrera
Pablo Edson Barrera Acosta is a Mexican footballer who plays as a winger or outside forward for La Liga side Real Zaragoza, on loan from West Ham United...
strictly as a replacement; for relegating Deportivo La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
midfielder Andres Guardado
Andrés Guardado
José Andrés Guardado Hernández is a Mexican footballer who plays for Deportivo de La Coruña in Spain and the Mexican national football team, as a left winger.-Atlas:...
to the bench and replacing him in the two games he did start; and for choosing Ricardo Osorio
Ricardo Osorio
Ricardo Osorio Mendoza is a Mexican international football defender, who currently plays with Monterrey of the Primera División de México...
as a central defender over the younger Hector Moreno
Héctor Moreno
Héctor José Moreno Moreno is a retired Colombian racewalker. He went to four Olympian games and five world athletics . he is one of the best athletes in the past fifty years because only two Colombians also have a Panamerican title and he is one of them...
(Osorio was responsible for a crucial error in the match against Argentina that directly led to Argentina's second goal).
Aguirre also came under criticism for his refusal to explain these personnel decisions. This has led to the proliferation of rumors in Mexico concerning the various ulterior motives, Aguirre's and others', that led to these decisions, including the financial interests of the two major Mexican TV stations, Televisa
Televisa
Televisa is a Mexican multimedia conglomerate, the largest mass media company in Latin America and in the Spanish-speaking world. It is a major international entertainment business, with much of its programming airing in the United States on Univision, with which it has an exclusive contract...
and TV Azteca
TV Azteca
Azteca, is the second largest Mexican television entertainment. It was established in 1983 as the state-owned Instituto Mexicano de la Televisión , a holding of the national TV networks channel 13 and 7 and was privatized under its current name in 1993 and now is part of Grupo Salinas...
, as well as those of various soccer promoters and of the owners of Mexico's first-division teams, who wield enormous influence over the Mexican national team (nor was it made clear to the public what role was played by Aguirre's assistant Mario Carrillo
Mario Carrillo
José Mario Carrillo Zamudio is a Mexican football coach, currently a news anchor for a well known sports channel ESPN Deportes and is known for serving as an assistant coach to Javier Aguirre with Mexico national football team.Carrillo has also coached Puebla F.C., Club América, and Cruz Azul.As a...
, who was supposedly in charge of Mexico's tactical work). During the run up to the World Cup Aguirre expressed his desire to coach in the Premier League in England but he received no offers.
Manager
Pachuca- Primera División de MéxicoPrimera División de MéxicoThe Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
: 1999
Atlético Madrid
- UEFA Intertoto CupUEFA Intertoto CupThe UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
: 2007
México
- CONCACAF Gold CupCONCACAF Gold CupThe CONCACAF Gold Cup is the main association football competition of the men's national football teams governed by CONCACAF, determining the regional champion of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.The Gold Cup is held every two years and when it does not fall the same year as an...
: 20092009 CONCACAF Gold CupThe 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the tenth edition of the Gold Cup competition, and the twentieth association football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was contested from 3 July to 26 July 2009 in the United States. This competition was the fourth tournament...
International goals
|-| 1. || 15 March 1983 || Estadio Nacional, San José
San José, Costa Rica
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
|| || 1–0 || Win || Friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
|-
| 2. || 22 March 1983 || Estadio Azteca
Estadio Azteca
Estadio Azteca is a stadium in Santa Ursula, Mexico City, Mexico. It is the official home stadium of the Mexico national football team and the Mexican team Club América.The stadium was the venue for football soccer in the 1968 Summer Olympics....
, Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
|| || 1–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 3. || 25 October 1983 || Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|| || 5–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 4. || 24 January 1984 || Estadio Sergio León Chavez
Estadio Sergio León Chavez
Estadio Sergio León Chávez is a multi-use stadium in Irapuato, Mexico. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 24,000 people...
, Irapuato
Irapuato, Guanajuato
Irapuato is a Mexican city located at the foot of the Arandas mountain , in the south central region of the state of Guanajuato. It lies between the Silao River and the Guanajuato River, a tributary of the Lerma River, at 1,724 m above sea level. It is located at...
, Mexico || || 3–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 5. || 16 August 1984 || Helsinki Olympic Stadium
Helsinki Olympic Stadium
The Helsinki Olympic Stadium , located in the Töölö district about from the center of the Finnish capital Helsinki, is the largest stadium in the country, nowadays mainly used for hosting sports events and big concerts. The stadium is best known for being the center of activities in the 1952...
, Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
|| || 3–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 6. || 22 August 1984 || Malmö Stadion
Malmö Stadion
Malmö Stadion is a multi-purpose stadium in Malmö, Sweden which is currently the home of Swedish football Division 4 club IFK Malmö and athletics club MAI...
, Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
|| || 1–1 || Draw || Friendly
|-
| 7. || 4 December 1984 || Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States || || 3–2 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 8. || 2 June 1985 || Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico || || 1–1 || Draw || 1985 Mexico City Cup
1985 Ciudad de México Cup Tournament
The Ciudad de México Cup Tournament was a minor international football competition, which took place in the summer of 1985 in Mexico.Host nation Mexico, England and Italy participated in the tournament, and matches took place at the Estadio Azteca, home of Mexican team Club América...
|-
| 9. || 17 November 1985 || Estadio Cuauhtémoc
Estadio Cuauhtémoc
Estadio Cuauhtémoc is a football stadium in Puebla, Puebla .The stadium, which has a capacity of 42,648 seats, is the home of Puebla F.C., it's one of the best and very historical football stadium in Mexico, being currently the fifth biggest stadium in Mexico in term of its capacity. It belongs to...
, Puebla
Puebla, Puebla
The city and municipality of Puebla is the capital of the state of Puebla, and one of the five most important colonial cities in Mexico. Being a planned city, it is located to the east of Mexico City and west of Mexico's main port, Veracruz, on the main route between the two.The city was founded...
, Mexico || || 1–1 || Draw || Friendly
|-
| 10. || 19 February 1986 || Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico || || 1–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 11. || 13 April 1986 || Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States || || 1–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 12. || 27 April 1986 || Estadio Azul
Estadio Azul
The Estadio Azul, is a 35,000-seat stadium located in Mexico City. This sports facility is currently used for association football matches and previously for American football. It is the home of Mexican football club Cruz Azul; it has been also home for Atlante F.C...
grana, Mexico City, Mexico || || 3–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 13. || 14 February 1988 || Estadio del Ejército
Estadio Del Ejército
Estadio del Ejército is a football stadium located in Guatemala City, the capital of Guatemala. The stadium was built in 1950 and is the home of Aurora FC . Estadio del Ejército's maximum seating capacity is 13,000 people.-External links:...
, Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
, Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
|| || 3–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 14. || 8 March 1992 || Estadio Azulgrana, Mexico City, Mexico || || 4–0 || Win || Friendly
|}