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Rafael Márquez takes the reins of the Mexican team. The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) announced on Wednesday that the former Barcelona star will succeed Javier Aguirre as head coach ahead of the 2030 World Cup.
Márquez, 47, served as Aguirre’s assistant from August 2024 until Mexico’s recent 3-2 round of 16 loss to England. While there was a succession plan in place from 2024, rumors had circulated that the FMF could look elsewhere.
“The appointment of Rafael Márquez is part of an orderly transition designed to ensure continuity…strengthen development and address upcoming commitments,” the FMF stated.
While El Tri has no immediate matches scheduled, Márquez is expected to make his coaching debut during the FIFA international window in late September and early October.
“I am happy with the growth shown by Rafa,” Aguirre said of his successor. “I spoke with Rafa because we are both prominent figures in Mexican soccer, I knew him as a player and teammate, and he is more than qualified.”
The FMF also expressed its gratitude to Aguirre. While Mexico’s campaign ended in the round of 16, a stage in which they have been eliminated in eight of the last nine World Cups, the team showed marked improvement after failing to advance beyond the group stage at Qatar 2022.
“He leaves a solid legacy of work, identity and competitiveness that strengthens the foundations for the next chapter of the national team,” said the FMF about Aguirre, who has just concluded his third World Cup cycle as coach of Mexico.
Márquez takes office with one of the most decorated resumes in the history of Mexican soccer. As a player, he participated in five World Cups, winning the 1999 Confederations Cup and winning Gold Cup titles in 2003 and 2011.
In Europe, he played for Monaco before a legendary spell at Barcelona, where he won two Champions League trophies and four La Liga titles. At the national level, he began and ended his career with Atlas and won consecutive Liga MX titles with León.
Márquez went on to coach in the youth ranks of Real Alcalá before successfully managing Barça Atlètic, Barcelona’s reserve team, where he was in charge of 82 games in two seasons, recording 40 wins, 21 draws and 21 losses.
Information from The Associated Press.
