Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 6y

Juan Carlos Osorio won't return as Mexico national team manager

Juan Carlos Osorio will not be renewing his contract with the Mexico national team, the Mexican federation (FMF) announced on Friday.

Osorio was offered a new deal after Russia 2018, according to multiple reports, but the Colombian coach has turned it down after spending time thinking about it.

"I'm using this message to send my sincerest thanks to Mexico fans, to the Mexican federation, to the employees in the high-performance center and, especially, to all the players with whom I had the privilege to work with during this period as head coach of the Mexican national team, a job I carried out with commitment, passion and pride," said Osorio in a statement released by the FMF.

The FMF thanked Osorio for his work in charge of El Tri and wished him luck in his next endeavor.

"We thank [Osorio] for his dedication, passion, commitment and affection that he showed and with which he prepared for each one of the games he was in charge of the Mexican national team, as well as his frankness and honesty in his decision not to be considered a candidate for the next World Cup cycle," read the FMF statement.

Osorio led Mexico to arguably its greatest World Cup result in defeating Germany 1-0 in El Tri's group opener, but a 3-0 loss to Sweden in the final group match meant Mexico faced a strong Brazil side in the round of 16 and lost 2-0.

Osorio has been linked to both the vacant United States job and the Colombia head-coaching position, should Jose Pekerman leave. The 56-year-old has confirmed his interest in both posts. Osorio also suggested before the World Cup that European clubs had contacted him.

Mexico's record since Osorio took over included 33 wins, 10 losses and nine ties, but the former New York Red Bulls coach's spell with the team has been tumultuous, with many in Mexico criticizing the manager's rotation of players and attempts to mold them into different positions.

There were calls for Osorio to leave the position after the 7-0 loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa America Centenario and again when a second-string Mexico team crashed out at the semifinal of the 2017 Gold Cup to Jamaica.

The players did appear to support Osorio and backed him when high-profile former players such as Hugo Sanchez and public opinion turned against him.

The search now will start for a new manager, with out-of-work Matias Almeyda and Club America coach Miguel Herrera already having been mentioned as potential replacements.

Choosing the right candidate will be the first major task of incoming FMF president Yon de Luisa in his new job. De Luisa replaced Decio de Maria at the end of the World Cup.

Mexico's next games are against Uruguay in Houston on Sept. 7 and then in Nashville against the United States four days later at the same venue.

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