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| Farewell then Miguel Herrera, a coach too exuberant for Mexico's big-boy pants | Farewell then Miguel Herrera, a coach too exuberant for Mexico's big-boy pants |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The sacking of Miguel Herrera, just hours after he had delivered Mexico their record seventh Gold Cup, brought an end to one of the more demonstrative national team coaching reigns in recent history. | The sacking of Miguel Herrera, just hours after he had delivered Mexico their record seventh Gold Cup, brought an end to one of the more demonstrative national team coaching reigns in recent history. |
| Herrera had taken over a demoralized Mexico team in the run up to the World Cup, given them energy and purpose and taken them within a few minutes of eliminating Holland in the knockout rounds. And now, in winning the Gold Cup he had set up an elimination game against the USA at the Rose Bowl on 9 October, for the right to represent Concacaf in the 2017 Confederations Cup. | Herrera had taken over a demoralized Mexico team in the run up to the World Cup, given them energy and purpose and taken them within a few minutes of eliminating Holland in the knockout rounds. And now, in winning the Gold Cup he had set up an elimination game against the USA at the Rose Bowl on 9 October, for the right to represent Concacaf in the 2017 Confederations Cup. |
| And he had done all this with a touchline presence that had made him a cult figure for world soccer fans, especially during the World Cup, where gifs of his impassioned celebrations became a staple of social media. | And he had done all this with a touchline presence that had made him a cult figure for world soccer fans, especially during the World Cup, where gifs of his impassioned celebrations became a staple of social media. |
| As Men in Blazers’ Roger Bennett put it, Herrera experienced “more happiness [in one goal celebration] than any Englishman has felt in [his] entire generation.” | As Men in Blazers’ Roger Bennett put it, Herrera experienced “more happiness [in one goal celebration] than any Englishman has felt in [his] entire generation.” |
| In the end, the very quality that had so endeared him to so many fans led to his downfall – as his particular brand of unrestrained passion set him on a collision course with a TV announcer at Philadelphia Airport on Monday morning. | In the end, the very quality that had so endeared him to so many fans led to his downfall – as his particular brand of unrestrained passion set him on a collision course with a TV announcer at Philadelphia Airport on Monday morning. |
| Related: Mexico coach Miguel Herrera: the World Cup has another internet hero | Related: Mexico coach Miguel Herrera: the World Cup has another internet hero |
| The announcer, Christian Martinoli, of Azteca, had been in an ongoing dispute with Herrera for some time, though that in itself was not necessarily remarkable. Dating back to his playing days – a time when he acquired the nickname “El Piejo” (“the louse”, or “the pest”) – Herrera was a man who appeared to thrive on conflict. And when Martinoli described him as a “barrabrava” (a word that some Mexican commentators have lately treated as a synonym for “hooligan”) on Twitter, Herrera had replied, “I am not that but hopefully I will find you someplace so we can settle our differences.” | |
| On Monday, after some more public sniping in the interim, Herrera did indeed find Martinoli and the resulting confrontation ended up with the head coach losing his job, after an emergency meeting of the Mexican Football Federation on Tuesday morning. | On Monday, after some more public sniping in the interim, Herrera did indeed find Martinoli and the resulting confrontation ended up with the head coach losing his job, after an emergency meeting of the Mexican Football Federation on Tuesday morning. |
| Decio de Maria, the incoming President of the Federation said this was “not a simple decision, but it is the correct one” and added of the constant scrutiny modern coaches find themselves under: “Matches never finish, and as public figures we have to keep that in mind … our values have to be kept and no one can be above the type of situation we saw on Monday at Philadelphia airport.” | Decio de Maria, the incoming President of the Federation said this was “not a simple decision, but it is the correct one” and added of the constant scrutiny modern coaches find themselves under: “Matches never finish, and as public figures we have to keep that in mind … our values have to be kept and no one can be above the type of situation we saw on Monday at Philadelphia airport.” |
| It’s not the first time Herrera has been forced out of the national team set up because of his volatility. When he was a player, he was sent off against Honduras in a crucial World Cup qualifier in 1994, as a simmering battle with Dolmo Flores ended with Hererra jumping into a lunging tackle against the Honduran that saw him red-carded. It was a climactic incident that confirmed his hot-headed tendencies to the coaches and he lost his place in the Mexico team. | It’s not the first time Herrera has been forced out of the national team set up because of his volatility. When he was a player, he was sent off against Honduras in a crucial World Cup qualifier in 1994, as a simmering battle with Dolmo Flores ended with Hererra jumping into a lunging tackle against the Honduran that saw him red-carded. It was a climactic incident that confirmed his hot-headed tendencies to the coaches and he lost his place in the Mexico team. |
| (Actually if you go to 1min 31s sec on the clip above, you might see one of the few clips available of Herrera pausing for reflection…) | (Actually if you go to 1min 31s sec on the clip above, you might see one of the few clips available of Herrera pausing for reflection…) |
| Ironically enough, Martinoli may have played a part in creating the national mood that once made Herrera the ideal man for the job. With Mexico limping through World Cup qualifying in 2013, and losing their final game in Costa Rica, Martinoli was the Azteca commentator covering the USA’s late two goal burst in Panama that sent the Mexican’s into a playoff game for the final World Cup spot, at the Panamanian’s expense. In what became a viral clip announcing the first, vital, USA goal scored by Graham Zusi, Martinoli condemned the Mexican team and coach: | Ironically enough, Martinoli may have played a part in creating the national mood that once made Herrera the ideal man for the job. With Mexico limping through World Cup qualifying in 2013, and losing their final game in Costa Rica, Martinoli was the Azteca commentator covering the USA’s late two goal burst in Panama that sent the Mexican’s into a playoff game for the final World Cup spot, at the Panamanian’s expense. In what became a viral clip announcing the first, vital, USA goal scored by Graham Zusi, Martinoli condemned the Mexican team and coach: |
| “United States! Not you. The ones in Green no. Them yes. Not you. Remember this for the rest of your life. You do nothing for the jersey. You put no effort. You have not placed us in the World Cup. You do not keep us alive. It’s United States. Not one of you. Not you and your arrogance. Not you and your infamy. Not you and your morons. We did not deserve to go to the playoffs. We have no arguments to earn the playoffs. USA, with subs – with many, many subs, and as a visiting team – played with dignity and once again showed us what USA is about. How they understand this sport, and the Mexico team is a horror. Just terrible. A failure. [the USA score again] Goal! United States Goal! We are in the playoff! We can keep criticizing ourselves. We can say the United States has surpassed us. The US are better at soccer than Mexico. They even have the luxury of playing their subs and keeping us alive. I hope that Vucetich puts on his big boy pants or resigns. He has failed us as a head coach. He is not working out for the team. We have to have someone with big boy pants.” | “United States! Not you. The ones in Green no. Them yes. Not you. Remember this for the rest of your life. You do nothing for the jersey. You put no effort. You have not placed us in the World Cup. You do not keep us alive. It’s United States. Not one of you. Not you and your arrogance. Not you and your infamy. Not you and your morons. We did not deserve to go to the playoffs. We have no arguments to earn the playoffs. USA, with subs – with many, many subs, and as a visiting team – played with dignity and once again showed us what USA is about. How they understand this sport, and the Mexico team is a horror. Just terrible. A failure. [the USA score again] Goal! United States Goal! We are in the playoff! We can keep criticizing ourselves. We can say the United States has surpassed us. The US are better at soccer than Mexico. They even have the luxury of playing their subs and keeping us alive. I hope that Vucetich puts on his big boy pants or resigns. He has failed us as a head coach. He is not working out for the team. We have to have someone with big boy pants.” |
| When Vucetich, by then the third coach of the cycle, departed, Herrera was the man who filled out those big boy pants, and for a while his populist touch, motivational prowess, and reorganization of the team to play to collective strengths rather than trying to fit in around their European-based stars, seemed to work wonders. | When Vucetich, by then the third coach of the cycle, departed, Herrera was the man who filled out those big boy pants, and for a while his populist touch, motivational prowess, and reorganization of the team to play to collective strengths rather than trying to fit in around their European-based stars, seemed to work wonders. |
| Mexico were reinvigorated, got themselves out of a World Cup group that also contained Brazil, Croatia and Cameroon, and of course made Herrera a cult hero of technical box aficionados everywhere. | Mexico were reinvigorated, got themselves out of a World Cup group that also contained Brazil, Croatia and Cameroon, and of course made Herrera a cult hero of technical box aficionados everywhere. |
| Yet despite the turnaround Herrera never quite grew past the impression that he was great short-term firefighter for the national team, but not someone to lead the team in the longer term – the equivalent of English bosses on the managerial carousel who cycle in and out of relegation threatened sides in February or March. | Yet despite the turnaround Herrera never quite grew past the impression that he was great short-term firefighter for the national team, but not someone to lead the team in the longer term – the equivalent of English bosses on the managerial carousel who cycle in and out of relegation threatened sides in February or March. |
| And there had been warning signs that Herrera’s momentum with the team was slowing. Despite winning the Gold Cup, Mexico were underwhelming until the final, and of course needed a couple of very dubious penalty decisions to get them through the quarter and semi finals in the first place. | And there had been warning signs that Herrera’s momentum with the team was slowing. Despite winning the Gold Cup, Mexico were underwhelming until the final, and of course needed a couple of very dubious penalty decisions to get them through the quarter and semi finals in the first place. |
| Even if the team looked more convincing though, it’s still barely conceivable Herrera could have survived this incident. In short, Herrera won a trophy, but lost his temper and his job. | Even if the team looked more convincing though, it’s still barely conceivable Herrera could have survived this incident. In short, Herrera won a trophy, but lost his temper and his job. |
| So who will replace him? Well, there are some intriguing names in the domestic game such as Santos Laguna’s Pedro Caixinha or Monterrey’s Antonio Mohamed, or perhaps the steady experience of of Tigres’ boss Ricardo Ferretti, whose methodical teams would represent a period of calm after the volatility of Herrera. Further afield, there are already whispers in Mexico that Jorge Sampaoli, fresh off his Copa America triumph with Chile, might be a realistic and intriguing option. | So who will replace him? Well, there are some intriguing names in the domestic game such as Santos Laguna’s Pedro Caixinha or Monterrey’s Antonio Mohamed, or perhaps the steady experience of of Tigres’ boss Ricardo Ferretti, whose methodical teams would represent a period of calm after the volatility of Herrera. Further afield, there are already whispers in Mexico that Jorge Sampaoli, fresh off his Copa America triumph with Chile, might be a realistic and intriguing option. |
| Whoever comes in, the Mexican Federation have promised to take their time to make the right decision – something of a novelty after the hapless Game of Thrones antics of 2013. As for Herrera, whatever’s next in his career, he’ll always have the memes... | Whoever comes in, the Mexican Federation have promised to take their time to make the right decision – something of a novelty after the hapless Game of Thrones antics of 2013. As for Herrera, whatever’s next in his career, he’ll always have the memes... |