Mexico Names Argentina’s Cocca as Head Coach

Mexico has named Argentina’s Diego Cocca as coach of the men’s national football team, with a mission to revitalise the side ahead of the 2026 World Cup that it will co-host.

Cocca replaces fellow Argentinian Gerardo Martino, who left after failing to lead the side past the group stage in Qatar last year.

An executive director at the Mexican Football Federation,Rodrigo Ares de Parga said; “We’re convinced that it was a good decision and that we’re going to triumph with Diego at the helm.”

Ares de Parga who at a news conference said five candidates had been interviewed for the job stressed that ”Cocca was a hard worker and a great strategist.”

Cocca, who turns 51 on Saturday, is the Mexican national team’s 45th coach and its fifth Argentine manager.

He previously led the Mexican club Tigres, which announced this week that it had terminated Cocca’s contract after only five games in charge due to his move to the national team.

“It was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up,” Cocca told reporters.

AFP/Mercy Chukwudiebere