Mexico Tell Hugo Sanchez to Get Gone
Big news from last night is that Hugo Sanchez finally got himself fired. He might be arguably Mexico’s greatest ever player, but his spell in charge of El Tri has been full of controversy. It started with his taking aim at predecessor Ricardo LaVelope for playing too many games in the US and picking naturalized players, but Sanchez was unable to reverse the trends. For example, his last game was a friendly against Ghana in London, at Fulham’s not-so-glamorous Craven Cottage.
Despite a respectable Copa America 2007 where El Tri beat eventual winners Brazil on their way to the semis, Sanchez failed to beat the US, most importantly in the 2007 Gold Cup final. But the final nail in Sanchez’s international management coffin was his U23 blunder. He didn’t have to take charge of the team for Olympic qualifying, but seemed he couldn’t resist. Unfortunately Mexico finished behind Guatemala and Canada in what should have been an easy group. The writing has been on the wall ever since.
Seems harsh to get rid of Sanchez based mostly on U23 results. He hasn’t even begun qualification for World Cup 2010, which was the supposed to be his main objective. But seems Mexico U23 were so bad under Sanchez that the Mexican FA didn’t want to risk a repeat in World Cup qualification.
“We want winners and leaders, we cannot accept another failure,” said Justin Compean, president of the Mexican federation.
“If you thought [failing to qualify for the Olympics] was difficult, can you imagine Mexico not being in South Africa?”
Sanchez’s reign will have to go down as yet more proof that being your countries greatest ever player is no preparation for international management.
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Comments
By Joe | April 1st, 2008 at 2:00 pm 
“If you thought [failing to qualify for the Olympics] was difficult, can you imagine Mexico not being in South Africa?”
This thought alone chills ME to the bone… Imagine how Mexican fans would feel.
Posted from 
United States
By Don Balones | April 2nd, 2008 at 4:02 pm Daryl,
I follow you, you are well informed Pal. But there’s one point that many people forget to talk about: in Mexico there are not too many “Great players” , in fact there’s a lot of mediocrity and G-d knows it is true. In Mexico people donnot have the PASSION that the argentinias have got, and that goes for the players as well. Their level is not soo Classy= Skillful and they always want a Coach who will be more of a MIRACLE-MAKER.. It is not true that the Federation totally supported Hugo to offer the recipe for success. People in Mexico are extremely jealous and with Hypocrisy and fake sermons they do all they can to block the success of the few High Class clever professionals. Mexico is sadly peopled by a majority of vulgar-low-class-wannabes who are extremely Proud but extremely DUMB as well. It is a pity because there is a minority of great professionals in many fields who have GREAT talents and Ivy League credentials but they always have to leave the country, otherwise they will always be blocked.. It is something positive about the United States of America that we also forget or donnot want to mention = In the U.S. if you work your soul off and you do of course everything legally and you prove to be a highly skilled professional= there will always be someone who will support you because They are not stupid= They know that You can be a CASH-GENERATOR-MACHINE!! Maybe Hugo Sanchez should have stayed in Spain (or gone to the States for a longer period) where at the end of his career he was considered a true Hero= He WENT BEYOND racist remarks and differences that did not apply to his profile , in essence he is and He will always be a Winner!! with European formation!
By Nolan | April 2nd, 2008 at 6:12 pm “Mexico is sadly peopled by a majority of vulgar-low-class-wannabes who are extremely Proud but extremely DUMB as well.”
Woah there…if we are going to play that game, you wouldn’t happen to be Argentine, would you?
Posted from 
Canada
By Albo | April 2nd, 2008 at 11:18 pm Nolan, I’m sorry but you are as low as our friend Dos Balones.
I’m argentinean and I am not racist and Dos Balones’ remarks make me a little sick in my stomach but your answer is not any better.
Football has nothing to do with all this crap.
Posted from United States
By John | April 3rd, 2008 at 9:54 am Word is the Mexican FA have Rijkaard and Scolari in their sights. Scolari is leaving Portugal after the Eurocup, and Rijkaard will probably not continue at Barcelona unless he wins the Champions League or La Liga, which is highly improbable. I think the Mexican FA should stick with a Mexican coach, though, so a foreigner doesn’t get all the credit if Mexico were to make a spectacle in South Africa.
Posted from United States
By Nolan | April 3rd, 2008 at 10:07 am Albo - I’m sorry if I offended you, I meant it as a joke to show how ridiculous such statements are, I hope you don’t think I’m anti-Argentine as Argentina means a lot to me.
Back on topic, Scolari managing Mexico would be something I’d like to see…I understand the desire for a Mexican coach but he’d get a lot out of Mexico’s young talent, which should be the priority for South Africa.
Posted from Canada
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