A few weeks ago Chicago Fire fans were titillated by an outbreak of rumors connecting former Mexican national team manager Miguel “Piojo” Herrera to their club's vacant head coaching post.
Now it may be US national team fans' turn.
Known for his love of attacking soccer and highly GIF-able goal celebrations, the charismatic Piojo was a guest on ESPN Deportes' Raza Deportiva on Wednesday morning, where he admitted that he'd be interested in taking over for Jurgen Klinsmann should US Soccer decide to pull the plug on the German-American's four-year stint at the helm of the USMNT.
“When you don't have a job, you have to listen to job offers, and if the United States is one and I don't have a job, without a doubt I will listen,” Herrera said.
Herrera, who led Club América to the 2013 Liga MX Clausura championship, steered El Tri to the 2015 Gold Cup title only to be dismissed after clashing with a reporter in the Philadelphia airport after the tournament final at Lincoln Financial Field. As he has repeatedly done since then, on Wednesday he made clear that he's open to job offers without confirming interest or undermining those occupying the positions in question.
“If I have no work, I always sit with those who offer work and appreciate that they see me as a possible candidate to handle any project,” said the 47-year-old, who has also been strongly connected to border side Club Tijuana. “There really has not been a call; Klinsmann continues to lead the US national team and has not been removed from office as if to say they are looking for a coach. You have to respect that process.”
Herrera previously fielded questions about the Fire job with similar evenhandedness. But the Mexican media reports that he and his assistant coach Alvaro Galindo are taking intensive English classes and would be quite interested in venturing north of the border to give MLS a try if a concrete opportunity takes shape this winter.
“I'm calmly waiting for a project that is attractive to me so I can return to work,” Herrera said on Wednesday. “I'm enjoying my family and watching a lot of soccer and preparing the best I can for what follows.”
