Liga MX Legend Delivers Shocking Rejection to Mexico National Team
Antonio Mohamed is considered among the finest coaches in Liga MX's storied past, yet following his triumph in the Apertura 2025 campaign with Toluca, the Argentine tactician firmly dismissed any possibility of eventually taking charge of Mexico's national squad.
"El Turco" guided Toluca to consecutive championships in 2025, securing his fourth and fifth Liga MX titles to establish himself as one of the competition's most successful coaches.
His consistent excellence in Mexico's premier division has sparked numerous appeals for him to assume control of El Tri. While Mohamed previously showed interest, he recently disclosed he has no intention of ever coaching Mexico.
"No, I've already stated I never will [coach Mexico]," Mohamed informed ESPN. "Perhaps someday I'll have second thoughts, but that's final. There are matters that wounded me and that's that, never."
In another conversation with TUDN, Mohamed elaborated: "I believed I was in discussions [to become Mexico's coach] because I was among the candidates, but I was never truly considered. So that's finished, the opportunity has gone and I believe the national team has already established their chronological plan for what lies ahead."
Mohamed was among the primary contenders to assume El Tri's leadership following Jaime Lozano's departure after the 2024 Copa América. Ultimately, Javier Aguirre returned for his third tenure with El Tri, eliminating any remaining possibility of Mohamed taking command.
Who Will be Mexico's Next Manager?
As Mohamed noted, El Tri has already established a transition strategy for legendary defender Rafael Márquez to succeed Aguirre following the 2026 World Cup.
Márquez competed for El Tri in five World Cups throughout his playing days and ranks among the nation's most accomplished athletes. Following his 2018 retirement, he returned to Barcelona, where he enjoyed his peak years, to begin his coaching development.
"El Kaiser" spent one season leading Barça Atlètic—Barcelona's reserve squad—but circumstances shifted when Aguirre rejoined El Tri. The Mexican football federation recruited Márquez from Barcelona, incorporating him into Aguirre's El Tri coaching staff with assurance he would assume the head coaching position to begin Mexico's preparation for the 2030 World Cup.
Aguirre, the coach who handed Márquez his World Cup debut in 2002, is now guiding him through the early stages of his coaching journey.
Following four managerial changes in under two years, Mexico seeks consistency in their technical area. Should everything proceed as planned, El Tri has already determined who will occupy the sideline for the remainder of the decade.