Mexico to name Diego Cocca as head coach, says report

The Mexico national soccer team is reportedly set to hire Diego Cocca as its head coach. Sources at ESPN and TUDN have both claimed that the current Tigres coach will transition to the national team soon. Cocca is being chosen over a lengthy list of candidates for the important job.

Pachuca’s Guillermo Almada, Toluca’s Ignacio Ambríz and free agents Miguel Herrera, Antonio Mohamed and Marcelo Bielsa were all reported targets by El Tri. Nevertheless, it appears as if Cocca is Mexico’s man.

Diego Cocca recently hired at Tigres in Mexico

The Argentine coach only just arrived in Monterrey to coach Tigres UANL. In fact, Cocca has managed just five matches for Tigres since being hired before the current campaign began. The club is currently undefeated under the coach, winning all five of their Liga MX Clausura games so far. They next face Pumas on Saturday.

Spanish outlet AS is claiming that Cocca will remain with Tigres to complete the current Clausura campaign. However, TUDN has reported that the coach has already left the club and will join the national team with immediate effect.

El Tri need to bounce back quickly

Mexico needed a new head coach. The national side did not extend Tata Martino after a disappointing 2022 World Cup. With Martino at the helm, the Mexicans failed to advance passed the group stage. A draw to Poland and loss to eventual winners Argentina essentially put the team behind the eight ball before a matchup with Saudi Arabia.

Cocca’s first games in charge will be two CONCACAF Nations League games next month. Mexico travel to face Suriname on March 23rd and then host Jamaica three days later.

It looks set to be a busy near future for El Tri. Mexico, along with the United States and Canada, will host the 2026 World Cup. Also, the trio is hosting the 2025 Gold Cup, which will reportedly feature European powerhouses. Mexico could also feature in the 2024 Copa America as well. However, Cocca’s first tournament as head coach will be the 2023 Gold Cup this summer.

PHOTO: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire