In the next few hours, Javier Aguirre will contest another final in his career. And it’s not just any final; it’s a Copa del Rey, one of the most historic and representative tournaments in European football.
Indeed, throughout his career, titles haven’t been the distinctive mark of ‘Vasco’ Aguirre, who has positioned himself in the Old Continent as more of a ‘savior’ coach. One of those who achieve a lot with little.
Even without many titles, although there are some. With the Mexican national team, he won a Gold Cup. With Pachuca, he lifted a Liga MX title. Despite not achieving the success he sought, he was crowned with Monterrey in the CONCACAF Champions League. As well as his 3 trophies in his adventure in the United Arab Emirates.
Talking about a Mexican strategist in Europe limits us to a single figure. While Hugo Sánchez had a stint at Almería in 2008, the reality is that he didn’t manage to establish himself and never returned to coaching in Spain.
Cases like that of Nacho Ambriz are surprising, as his success in Liga MX and his long preparation in Europe (precisely as Aguirre’s assistant) led us to think that his time at Salamanca in the Segunda División would be positive, but he returned just a few months after his arrival.
Undoubtedly, the great candidate to have a successful career in European football is Rafa Márquez. Currently at Barca B, a school that produced great coaches like Guardiola and Luis Enrique, and although it’s still early, his preparation and long career in the Old Continent mean a great support for his upcoming years. In fact, after Barcelona’s tough times, his name was often heard as a possible interim for the Catalan first team. But returning to ‘Vasco’, the aforementioned examples show us the harsh reality of Mexican coaches. Javier Aguirre arrived at Osasuna betting everything. He sold his house in Guadalajara, packed his bags, and went for it. The salary offered to him was infinitely lower than what he could earn in our country, but the objective was very clear.
Indeed, the bet paid off, and after 4 great seasons with Osasuna, where he not only achieved the initial goal of keeping them in the category but also led them to a Copa del Rey final and even finished a season in European positions.
Numbers that earned him the title of “Best Coach of the Year in Spain” in 2006.
Following this successful spell, Atlético Madrid didn’t hesitate and bet on the Mexican. At that time, the colchonero team was far from what it is today, and after 12 years without qualifying for the Champions League, Vasco was responsible for returning them to the top continental tournament.
Zaragoza, Espanyol, Leganés. The challenges for Vasco in future opportunities focused on saving the team. In most cases, he achieved the objective, a reason that allowed him to remain relevant year after year. Something that very few can boast.
Perhaps his worst moment at the club level came with Rayados upon his return to Mexico. Despite winning the CONCACAF Champions League against América, in the local tournament and especially in their participation in the Club World Cup, things didn’t go well. The regrettable part came after this tournament, where Monterrey’s fans launched a campaign against him. Constantly attacking him with offensive and even violent messages. Banners with threats flooded social media in a very regrettable act.
It’s true, the expectations were higher and the results weren’t as expected, but nothing justifies the treatment he received. His career speaks for itself, and he deserved a respect he didn’t receive.
It was his time with the Mexican national team that worked wonders in his task of qualifying Mexico for the 2002 and 2010 World Cups. On both occasions, he arrived as a firefighter and achieved the goal, although unfortunately, he didn’t go beyond the Round of 16, so few remember what he accomplished before.
Today, the streets of Mallorca are only filled with words of gratitude towards the Mexican coach. The banners (that once demanded his head in our country) on the other side of the world show their unconditional support for Aguirre.
Nothing strange, right?
That ‘virtue’ of Mexicans not recognizing their own. Of demanding more from them. Of qualifying them differently to the point of even enjoying the defeats of their compatriots. Luckily, on the other side, the story is different.
The Vasco is about to play his second Copa del Rey final, and once again he does it as the underdog. The opponent, Athletic Bilbao, has a better squad and resources, but Javier Aguirre has shown us on more than one occasion that this is not an impediment to achieving a favorable result.
In his first opportunity, he fell to Betis when he was coaching Osasuna, and today he hopes that history takes a different turn.
Hopefully, his trajectory serves as an example for future generations of Mexican coaches, most of whom have refused to take the leap and face the challenge. Like the players, if Mexican football aspires to grow, the presence of coaches in European dugouts is also necessary.
Enjoy the Copa del Rey final this Saturday, and if you believe that Javier Aguirre can lift the cup with Mallorca, bet on www.mexplay.mx.
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Cover one of the biggest teams in Mexico;
He was a correspondent in Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
One of the new faces in the industry who has found his place thanks to his preparation and adaptation, especially in digital media.