​MEXICO CITY (AP) — Rafael Márquez is stepping into the role of head coach for the Mexican national team, with the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) confirming on Wednesday that the former Barcelona star will succeed Javier Aguirre in leading the squad toward the 2030 World Cup. At 47 years old, Márquez has been serving as Aguirre’s assistant since August 2024, a period that culminated in Mexico’s 3-2 Round of 16 defeat to England. Although a succession plan had already been in place since 2024, there had been persistent rumors that the FMF might look for an alternative option.
The FMF described Márquez’s appointment as part of a planned, orderly transition intended to preserve continuity, strengthen development, and address upcoming commitments. While El Tri does not have any immediate matches scheduled, Márquez is anticipated to make his managerial debut during the FIFA international window in late September and early October.
Aguirre expressed confidence in his successor, saying, “I am happy with the growth shown by Rafa. I spoke with Rafa because we are both prominent figures in Mexican soccer — I knew him as a player and a teammate — and he is more than qualified.” The federation also extended its appreciation to Aguirre. Mexico’s run to the knockout stage this time, though still ending at the Round of 16—a stage at which they have been eliminated in eight of the last nine World Cups—represented a notable improvement after the group-stage exit at Qatar 2022.
The FMF praised Aguirre for leaving “a solid legacy of hard work, identity, and competitiveness that strengthens the foundation for the national team’s next chapter,” as he concluded his third World Cup cycle as Mexico’s manager.
Márquez enters the job with one of the most storied résumés in Mexican football history. As a player, he appeared in five World Cups and was part of the squads that won the 1999 Confederations Cup and claimed Gold Cup titles in 2003 and 2011. His European club career included a stint at Monaco before a landmark tenure at Barcelona, where he secured two Champions League titles and four La Liga championships. Domestically, he kicked off and finished his playing days with Atlas, and he also enjoyed back-to-back Liga MX titles with León.
Transitioning into coaching, Márquez began in Real Álcala’s youth ranks before taking the helm at Barça Atlètic, Barcelona’s reserve team. In his tenure there, he oversaw 82 matches across two seasons, recording 40 wins, 21 draws, and 21 losses. With Márquez now taking charge of the national team, expectations are high that his breadth of experience as a player and coach will translate into a cohesive, competitive squad capable of contending on the world stage in the coming years.