Could Marcelo Bielsa become the next Mexico head coach?
Pável Pardo, who won over 100 caps for Mexico and began his club career under Marcelo Bielsa, says the former Argentina and Chile boss would be a good fit.
Former Mexico international Pável Pardo has backed Marcelo Bielsa to become El Tri’s new head coach, amid reports that the Argentinian could fill the vacancy left by the resignation of countryman Gerardo Martino.
Bielsa links to Mexico job “great news”
Pardo, who began his club career under Bielsa at Liga MX club Atlas in the early 1990s, told AS México: “If he’s among the candidates to take charge of the Mexico national team, I think that’s great news.”
Bielsa, 67, spent a year in charge of the Atlas youth academy between 1992 and 1993, then took over as head coach of the Guadalajara club until 1995. The ex-Argentina and Chile boss also went on to have a short spell at the helm of Club América, before leaving the 13-time Mexican champions in 1996.
Ability to bring on young talent a plus, says Pardo
“He’s a coach who really knows how to get the best out of young players,” Pardo said. “He’s shown that everywhere he’s been. In Mexico, he did that at Atlas, where there were several of us who benefited from everything he did.
“I’m talking about the likes of Oswaldo Sánchez and Jared Borgetti - and Rafa Márquez, who also benefited, because he arrived at Atlas at 14, by which time Bielsa had taken over the first team.”
“We know how good Bielsa is”
Pardo, who won 146 caps for Mexico between 1996 and 2009, added: “I know Bielsa very well, because of all the work we did together. And, when it comes to coaching national sides, we all know what he achieved with the Chileans and the Argentinians.
“We know how good he is, and I think it’s great that he could be in contention to get the Mexico job.”