Miguel Herrera’s head finally has cooled, but it’s far too late to save the most high-profile job of his career.
Herrera issued a public apology Saturday for an altercation with a reporter, which cost him his job as head coach of Mexico’s national team. Herrera expressed his sadness at the incident and it’s fallout but also included a number of caveats in his apology.
“I want to publicly apologize to the fans, the coaching staff, players, Mexico Football Federation and the media for my behavior in the regretful incident that I had with a commentator,” Herrera said in the statement, according to Goal.com. “I understand that this is not an attitude a Mexico national team coach should have, despite all the criticism, taunts and jokes against myself and my family.”
Herrera continued: “It makes me very sad to be leaving my position as national team coach due to this regrettable cause, especially because the results have been, for the most part, positive within the goals we set. … I will be taking advantage of this time to enjoy my family, rest a bit and afterward, I will return as the same person and you will have in me, as always, an open door.”
Herrera led Mexico to victory at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup on Sunday but lost his job two days later amid allegations he punched TV Azteca journalist Christian Martinoli at Philadelphia International Airport. Martinoli reportedly was one of Herrera’s fiercest critics in the media, and Herreara allegedly attacked him in the City of Brotherly Love.
Herrera’s road to future employment likely will begin with this apology. When the furor dies down, he’ll probably be on the managerial short-lists of untold numbers of teams — at home and abroad — given his record of success with “El Tri” and Mexico’s Club America.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@VICESports
