What will happen to “Tata” Martino after the Mexico fiasco and who will coach “El Tri”

Mexico was just one goal away from qualifying for the ’round of 16′ at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The North Americans’ feat hovered over Lusail Stadium, but it was all just another unfinished dream; however, the distance between scoring the coveted goal or going home is deeper than that.

The Mexican national team had not been eliminated from the group stage at a World Cup since Argentina 1978. Since then, much has changed in World Cup history, but for Mexico, the outcome has remained the same. In fact, it’s gotten worse.

Mexico’s media and fans now point the finger at coach Gerardo Martino. Among his biggest critics is former Mexico coach Miguel Herrera, who coached the national team from 2013-2015. “We didn’t see a great tactician, his CV was good, until we realised they sold him to us as a great tactician and he’s not,” said “Piojo” Herrera.

In the former Mexico national team coach’s analysis, Martino didn’t know how to react to the situation on the pitch.

“A strategist is a guy who knows how to modify when things don’t work, if you go to war with your hands tied, they don’t give you rifles, and if they don’t give you rifles, you will lose the war. The problem is that you see you’re losing the war and you still don’t change your strategy,” was Herrera’s analogy.

El Tri’s latest Mexican coach was asked if he thought Gerardo Martino helped Argentina in the group stage match by changing his tactical stance, but El Piojo avoided controversy.

“You can’t ask me that because I don’t know, if you set a formation to defend, you have to use the best players,” the Mexican coach said. 

“Tata” Martino, however, ended his contract with Mexico immediately after the end of the tournament in Qatar for “El Tri”. Now the federation in Mexico City must find his replacement. To do this, several names have been “entered” in the race on the list of desirable candidates.

One of the favourites is Martino’s most vocal opponent, Miguel Herrera. The former defender, now 54, coached Mexico before between 2013 and 2015, and was the last coach of Tigres UANL in the domestic league. Incidentally, his entire coaching career has been in Mexican football alone, where he won two titles and a cup with Club America. In his previous tenure on the bench of “El Tri”, he won the Gold Cup in 2015.

Also, a favourite is another former Mexico coach, Colombian Juan Carlos Osorio, who even preceded “Tata Martino” from 2015-2018. Osorio has already declared his willingness to coach “El Tri” again. The Colombian qualified Mexico for the 2018 World Cup, where they managed a 1-0 win over Germany in the group stage, but were then eliminated in the “round of 16” by Brazil.

Another favorite is another former Mexico coach, Colombian Juan Carlos Osorio, who preceded even “Tata Martino” from 2015-2018. Osorio has already declared his willingness to coach “El Tri” again. The Colombian qualified Mexico for the 2018 World Cup, where they managed a 1-0 win over Germany in the group stage, but were then eliminated in the “round of 16” by Brazil.

Other names on the Mexican Football Federation’s list are Ignacio Ambriz, former Mexican champion with Leon, Cup winner with Necaxa and CONCACAF champion with America, as well as several foreign coaches: Uruguayan Guillermo Almada, Argentinians Ricardo Gareca and Mauricio Pochettino, and Portuguese Nuno Espirito Santo.

The new coach is expected to prepare the team for the next World Cup, which El Tri will not have to qualify for as it will be one of the hosts, along with the USA and Canada.

If it’s only a matter of days before Mexico appoints a new coach, what will happen to Argentine coach “Tata” Martino next?

Gerardo Martino’s future will not be tied to any club, although a deal with Boca Juniors has been speculated. The 60-year-old is reportedly taking a break from football and will not be coaching any team for the time being, with Martino claiming that he is very exhausted from his time with the Mexican national team and would be stepping away from the pitch in the immediate future.