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Rafael Márquez takes over the reins of the Mexican national team. The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) announced on Wednesday that the former Barcelona star will succeed Javier Aguirre as head coach until the 2030 World Cup.
Márquez, 47, served as Aguirre’s assistant from August 2024 until Mexico’s recent 3-2 round of 16 loss to England. While a succession plan had been in place since 2024, rumors had circulated that FMF could look elsewhere.
“The appointment of Rafael Márquez is part of an orderly transition designed to ensure continuity … strengthen development and tackle upcoming commitments,” FMF stated.
While El Tri have no immediate matches scheduled, Márquez is expected to make his managerial debut during the FIFA international window in late September and early October.
“I’m happy with the growth Rafa has shown,” Aguirre said of his successor. “I spoke to Rafa because we are both prominent figures in Mexican football – I knew him as a player and teammate – and he is more than qualified.”
The FMF also expressed its gratitude to Aguirre. While Mexico’s campaign ended in the round of 16 – the stage where they have been eliminated in eight of the last nine World Cups – the team showed marked improvement after failing to progress past the group stage at Qatar 2022.
“He leaves behind a solid legacy of hard work, identity and competitiveness that strengthens the foundations for the national team’s next chapter,” FMF said of Aguirre, who has just completed his third World Cup cycle as Mexico’s manager.
Márquez steps into the role with one of the most decorated resumes in Mexican soccer history. As a player, he participated in five World Cups, won the Confederations Cup in 1999 and won Gold Cup titles in 2003 and 2011.
In Europe, he played for Monaco before a legendary stay at Barcelona, where he won two Champions League trophies and four La Liga titles. Domestically, he began and ended his career with Atlas, winning back-to-back Liga MX titles with León.
Márquez moved on to coach in Real Alcalá’s youth ranks before successfully managing Barça Atlètic, Barcelona’s reserve team, in charge of 82 matches over two seasons, recording 40 wins, 21 draws and 21 losses.
Report from the Associated Press.
