MEXICAN NATIONAL TEAM
Pachuca and Mexico reach an agreement over Guillermo Almada
Guillermo Almada is one of the favourites to take over as Mexico national team coach but Liga MX club Pachuca want him to stay.
Guillermo Almada is one of the main contenders to become the new head coach of the Mexican national team, with the Mexican Soccer Federation (FMF) having confirmed their interest in the Uruguayan. However, as the Liga MX Clausura 2023 has already begun and Almada’s club Pachuca have been caught off guard in respect to finding a replacement, Tuzos presdient Armando Martínez has revealed the club have reached an agreement with the federation should Almada ultimately take the reigns.
What agreement have Pachuca and the FMF reached?
In an interview with ESPN, Martínez explained that if Almada does indeed take charge of Mexico, the Uruguayan will remain with Pachuca for the entirety of the Clausura 2023 but will lead El Tri in their first international break of 2023.
“Obviously, we didn’t have a Plan B because Almada has a contract with us; but since the FMF are definitely interested in Guille, he would stay with us until the end of the tournament. He will, however, be able to go away with Mexico during the international window and return to Pachuca. We’ve discussed that with the FMF”, Martínez said. He also claimed that Pachuca hadn’t foreseen the FMF’s rumoured interest in Almada being firmed up: “We weren’t ready for it and it just happened a few days ago,” he continued.
When is the first FIFA international window of 2023?
The first FIFA international window in 2023 is from March 20 to 28. Mexico travel to Suriname on 23 March and then host Jamaica on 26 March. Both games are Concacaf Nations League fixtures.
Pachuca president Armando Martínez pays tribute to Guillermo Almada
Although the identity of Mexico’s new coach hasn’t yet been confirmed, Martinez paid tribute to the work that Almada had done at Pachuca, who were crowned Apertura 2022 champions in October.
“We are very proud of Guillermo and happy for him. Not just because of what he’s achieved at Pachuca but also for the work he’s done at other clubs for quite a while now. His hard work has culminated in winning a title with Pachuca and reaching two finals in a row. That speaks very highly of him”, the Tuzos president concluded.