The speculation is over: Miguel Herrera is out as the manager of the Mexican national team, having been fired after a vote by the Mexican Football Federation board of governors.
Miguel Herrera is out as Mexico national team manager
After allegedly attacking a reporter at the airport the morning after winning the Gold Cup, Herrera is no longer Mexico’s manager.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
First reported by ESPN's John Sutcliffe, the news comes just a day after Herrera is alleged to have attacked an Azteca TV reporter at Philadelphia International Airport, which itself came the morning after Mexico's 3-1 triumph over Jamaica to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup. While winning trophies is always excellent, attacking reporters is not, and so it was that Mexico and El Piojo -- "the Louse" -- had to part ways after the startling incident.
Herrera was a fiery and passionate competitor on the pitch in his playing days, and that energy carried over into his managerial career as well. Herrera was a successful manager at club level in Liga MX before being given a chance as the interim manager of the national team two years ago after a spell when Mexico were running through managers almost every other match.
He was given the task of winning Mexico's World Cup playoff qualifier against New Zealand in order to reach the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, which Herrera did with ease, earning him the job on a full-time basis. Herrera then got Mexico through a tough group that included Brazil and Croatia. but they fell controversially in the round of 16 to the Netherlands.
Things have been a little rougher for Mexcio in recent months, as players aging and getting injured have left Herrera’s squad quite thin. A poor showing in the Copa America earlier this summer put Herrera’s job at risk, but he recovered by winning the Gold Cup trophy -- and then Herrera threw everything away when he threw that alleged punch.
The manager’s energy and enthusiasm on the touchline was always a joy to behold, with sights like this not at all uncommon after big moments in Mexico’s matches:
But all the enthusiasm in the world doesn’t change reality: you just can’t go around punching people. There are consequences for that, and the consequence for Herrera was losing his job.
★★★
SB Nation presents: Neymar has a real claim as the world’s best player
See More:
