Rafael Márquez Appointed Head Coach of Mexico National Team

The Mexican Football Federation announced on Wednesday the appointment of Rafael Márquez as head coach of the national team, succeeding Javier Aguirre, just two days after Mexico's exit from the Round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup against England, losing 3-2.

Márquez's appointment comes after he served as Aguirre's assistant coach since 2024. The Mexican Federation confirmed in its statement that the new coach will ensure the continuity of the technical project initiated by Aguirre, alongside leading the sports development process for the national team in preparation for upcoming challenges, notably the CONCACAF Nations League.

Márquez has played 147 international matches and participated in five World Cups in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018.

Throughout his professional career, he achieved numerous accolades, including winning the UEFA Champions League twice with Barcelona in 2006 and 2009, as well as four La Liga titles and the French league with Monaco in 2000. He also led the Mexican national team to victory in the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup and finished as runners-up in the 2001 Copa América.

On the coaching front, Márquez began his career as a sporting director at Atlas before gaining coaching experience with youth teams in Spain. He then managed Barcelona Athletic from 2022 to 2024 before joining the coaching staff of the Mexico national team.