LIGA MX
Martín Palermo linked to vacant América managerial role
The former Boca Juniors and Argentina striker is currently employed by Platense but is thought to be open to a move to Mexico City.
Club América continues to search for a replacement for Fernando Ortiz, who left his role as head coach after last month’s play-off defeat to Chivas Guadalajara.
Ortiz has since taken up a new role at Monterrey but América are still without a manager. A number of candidates are thought to have turned down approaches from the club from the capital, leaving the board working against the clock to find the new man before the 2022 Apertura season kicks off on 30 June.
AS Mexico reports that the club are considering an approach for legendary Argentinian forward and former Pachuca head coach, Martín Palermo.
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So far there has been no contact between América and the Argentine, who is currently in charge of Platense in his home country. However, sources close to the former striker have said that “it would be a source of pride for a club as big as América to pay attention” to Palermo as they continue their hunt for a new coach.
During his playing career Palermo was a stalwart for Boca Juniors, playing over 400 games across two spells. He was called up for Argentina on 15 occasions and scored nine goals, most notably the injury time winner that took Diego Maradona’s team to the World Cup in 2010.
Could Martín Palermo return to Liga MX?
It seems that interest from the Liga MX side would well received by the 49-year-old coach, who has some history in Mexican soccer. After an impressive stint with Chilean side Unión Española, who he took to second place in Chile’s top flight, Palermo moved to Liga MX side Pachuca in January 2019 but left in December that year.
The former Boca Juniors striker ended his contract with Pachuca by mutual agreement after a ninth-place finish, missing out on Liguilla del Apertura. During his 42-game stint with Los Tuzos he managed a record of 18 wins, 12 draws and 13 losses.
Palermo’s career as a coach began at Argentinian side Godoy Cruz in 2012, before moving to Arsenal de Sarandí in two years later. In 2016, he moved to Chile to take over at Unión Española. After a single year at Pachuca he managed Curicó Unido and Aldosivi.
Finally in 2022 he joined Platense but has struggled for success. His 20 games in charge have brought just seven victories, a win rate of 35%. It would be a bold move for América to turn to a coach with such a limited CV, but with the new season fast approaching they may decide that they have little choice.