World Cup: Aguirre out as Mexico coach
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As expected, Javier Aguirre will not be back as coach of the Mexican national soccer team.
The two-time World Cup coach and former national team player stepped down on Wednesday, three days after El Tri was knocked out of this year’s World Cup in the second round.
It marked the fifth straight time that Mexico had been eliminated at this stage.
Aguirre made the announcement at a packed press conference in Mexico City. Aguirre was appointed 15 months ago to his second stint at Mexico coach. He also coached the team in the 2002 World Cup but was replaced after Mexico was eliminated by the United States.
Aguirre is Mexico’s fourth coach in four years and the fifth since Argentine Ricardo La Volpe was released after the 2006 World Cup.
Several reports suggest Aguirre is one of highest-paid national-team coaches with an annual salary of about $4 million. Only Italy coach Marcelo Lippi and England coach Fabio Capello are believed to earn more.
“Everything I did, I did thinking of the well-being of Mexico,” Aguirre said at the press conference.
-- Kevin Baxter in Johannesburg, South Africa