Mexico sacks Lozano after early Copa America exit

The Mexico men’s national team is on the lookout for its fourth head coach in less than two years.

The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) announced Tuesday that Jaime Lozano would not continue after El Tri crashed out of the Copa América at the group stage.

Mexico struggled at the tournament in the United States, beating Jamaica in its opener before losing to Venezuela and drawing Ecuador to fall short of the knockout stage.

The FMF said it had offered Lozano the chance to stay on as an assistant coach for two years before reassuming his position as head coach.

Lozano declined that offer.

“Jaime Lozano was offered, along with his coaching staff, a contract until 2030, in which during 2024-2026 they will accompany a more experienced head coach towards our World Cup, and later it would be Jaime himself who would retake the reins of head coach in the 2026-2030 process,” the FMF said in a statement .

“After analyzing the proposal, Jaime Lozano informed us that he doesn’t wish to continue. We respect his decision.”

After Gerardo “Tata” Martino departed following the 2022 World Cup, Mexico hired Diego Cocca as his replacement in February 2023. The Argentine would only last a few months, as he was relieved of his duties following a 3-0 defeat to the U.S. in the 2023 Nations League semifinal.

Lozano then came aboard as an interim, winning the 2023 Gold Cup before being named the head coach on a permanent basis.

But there were always questions over whether the FMF would keep the 45-year-old in charge through a home World Cup in 2026, or go with a more experienced option.

Sure enough, ESPN has reported that Mexico may be about to turn to Javier Aguirre for a third stint in charge of the national team.

Aguirre, 65, led Mexico at both the 2002 and 2010 World Cup, and is now a free agent after departing La Liga side Mallorca at the end of the 2023-24 season.

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