MLS
Gonzalo Pineda pushes young coaches to go to MLS
The current Atlanta United strategist indicated that in the United States the roles are more respected than in Mexico.
Major League Soccer is providing young coaches with an opportunity to launch their careers and acquire experience. Mexican coach Gonzalo Pineda is a prime example, as he believes that the league is an excellent option for fledgling strategists to learn from, with longevity being more respected. Pineda explained this during an interview with TUDN.
Pineda compares MLS and Liga MX
“In Mexico I think that there have not been so many young Mexican coaches who have had the opportunity. I think that jobs are also cut off extremely quickly, and today we see it on matchday five that there are already two coaches out, something that is not very common in MLS, where they give you time to work.
“For a young coach the short-termism kills you, because they want you to be in the top places in four games. In the United States they are more medium- and long-term focused, which helps in the end.”
Pineda, who played for the Seattle Sounders in the MLS, has been managing Atlanta United for a year and a half. While leading the Mexican national team is one of his ultimate goals, he acknowledges that he must first make a name for himself in the club game.
Several layoffs in this Clausura 2023
As Pineda says, in contrast to the MLS, Mexican soccer has a reputation for being quick to fire coaches who do not deliver immediate results.
Diego Cocca, former coach of Tigres, is an exception, as he left his position to become the manager of the Mexico team for the 2023-2026 period that includes the World Cup, jointly hosted in the country. However, the same cannot be said for Raúl ‘Potro’ Gutiérrez from Cruz Azul, Gabriel Caballero from Mazatlán, and Ricardo Valiño from Tijuana, who were all replaced due to poor results early in the Clausura 2023 season.