De la Torre named new Mexico coach
Reuters - Tuesday 19 October 2010, 05:07
MEXICO CITY - Jose Manuel de la Torre
succeeded Javier Aguirre as Mexico coach on Monday with the
task of steering them through to the 2014 World Cup finals in
Brazil.
"It has been my dream all my life," De la Torre told a news
conference on accepting the post, which he will begin once his
club Toluca have completed their campaign in the Apertura
championship that ends in December.
"Once I've finished that commitment, I'll take charge of
the national team," said the 44-year-old nicknamed Chepo.
Aguirre resigned in July after Mexico's second round defeat
by Argentina at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa and
the position has been occupied in an interim capacity by
several coaches who presided over friendlies since then.
De la Torre was originally competing for the job with
Monterrey's Victor Vucetich, who pulled out over the weekend
citing family reasons.
The appointment comes amid a team crisis after the Mexican
Football Federation (FMF) sanctioned 13 players for holding an
unauthorised late-night party after a friendly last month.
At the height of the crisis, the players threatened to
boycott team call-ups and De la Torre's brother Nestor resigned
from the post of FMF national teams director.
'DISCIPLINE, ORDER'
He had suspended forward Carlos Vela and midfielder Efrain
Juarez for six months for breaking team rules and another 11
players including World Cup captain Rafael Marquez were fined.
"Discipline and order are valued in all institutions. We
will have to agree on order, discipline and what it means to be
in a national select, to be an example in all aspects, every
day, 24 hours a day and everywhere," De la Torre said.
He added that selection to the team was open to all players
and he would call up "those in the best condition, with the
best ability and who are committed to being in a national
select with all that means."
De la Torre has had a short but successful coaching career,
winning league titles in his first job as head coach with
Guadalajara in the 2006 Apertura championship and again in his
first season with Toluca, the 2008 Apertura.
Toluca are the reigning champions after winning another
title in the 2009/10 season's "Bicentenario" Clausura
championship this year.
Mexico will take part in two tournaments next year, the
CONCACAF Gold Cup in June and as an invited team in the Copa
America, the South American championship, in Argentina in July.
FMF general secretary Decio de Maria said Mexico would also
play numerous friendlies next year, the first in the United
States on February 9 against opponents yet to be decided.