The promises of a secure job regardless of the results vanished in less than a month.
Jaime Lozano has been dismissed as coach of the Mexican national soccer team a couple of weeks after the country’s elimination in the first round of the Copa America, the country’s federation announced on Tuesday.
The Mexican Football Federation explained that one of the reasons for the dismissal was that Lozano, 45, never reinforced his coaching staff with someone more experienced.
“Since Jaime Lozano’s arrival, he was asked to strengthen his team by adding someone with more experience who would complement his talent and ability as a strategist, in the midst of an extremely challenging environment,” the Federation said in a statement. “However, a year later and for various reasons, this did not materialize.”
You arrived at a difficult time and you knew how to face the challenges bringing unity and professionalism. Today your cycle as Technical Director of the Senior National Team ends and we recognize your dedication and commitment. Thank you, Jimmy! pic.twitter.com/vpBC6ecxL5
— National Team (@miseleccionmx) July 17, 2024
The directors also reported that he was offered to continue in the position as an assistant to a more experienced coach and then continue the process alone until 2030.
“My departure is a personal decision due to a question of values and a difference in the direction of the agreed project,” Lozano wrote on his official social media accounts. “I am leaving with my head held high, with unique experiences and with enormous learnings.”
The governing body of Mexican soccer has not announced who the most experienced coach will be, but various media outlets point to Javier Aguirre as the favorite. “Vasco” Aguirre has already coached Mexico on two previous occasions and played in the final of the last edition of the Copa del Rey, in charge of Mallorca.
The leaders announced that they will present a new work plan in the first week of August, which could include the name of the next coach.
Whoever takes over will become the third coach in the 19 months since Mexico was eliminated in the first round of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the first time that has happened to El Tri since Argentina 78.
Lozano was in charge of Mexico for just over a year, during which time he managed 21 games, of which he won 10 and lost seven.
His 53.7 percent shooting percentage is the lowest for a coach with at least 20 caps since Sweden’s Sven Goran Eriksson, who was fired in 2009 after one year in the job with 48.72.
Lozano won a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and was appointed to the post on an interim basis in May last year to replace Argentine Diego Cocca, who was sacked after seven games.
After winning the Gold Cup and with the clear support of the players, the leaders gave him the permanent position, but the team declined as the weeks went by, including poor performances in the Nations League where they were barely able to beat Honduras on penalties at the Azteca stadium and then lost the final to the United States.
For the Copa America, Lozano decided to leave out five experienced players, including goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and forward Hirving Lozano. The team was only able to beat Jamaica, before falling to Venezuela and drawing against Ecuador.
Mexican Football Federation President Ivar Sisniega said he backed that decision and that Lozano’s job was secure through the 2026 World Cup, which Mexico will co-host with the United States and Canada, regardless of the results on the field.
He did not keep his promise.
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