ETO Fixes Your Team: Atlas
Before we start I am well aware that Los Zorros have not done anything noteworthy since the ’90s, but their rabid fan base deserves better. We have identified three key areas that if fixed can lead this team back to the Liguilla and maybe even that elusive title.
- Sporting Director
- Coach
- Back to Basics: Youth
Competent Sporting Director
Atlas has tried and failed in finding an adequate Sporting Director, even trying with Rafa Marquez who unfortunately flopped in the role. With the current global pandemic and many teams not looking to invest much in the transfer market an experienced S.D will be crucial. My choice would be Rodrigo Fernandez. Fernandez has been crucial in the resurgence of Leon and credited with building the team the finished first in the tabla and broke the record for most consecutive wins. He is known for not splurging on players and bringing in good pieces at a good price.
Coach
Now that we have a solid director in place, part two is the coach. Atlas needs a coach that will embrace the team’s strength, it cantera, but more on that later. Once linked with Barcelona, Marcelo Gallardo’s stock has cooled over recent months and now is a viable option. An offer of about $2.5 million may draw his attention away from Miami F.C. and only make him the third most expensive coach salary in the league. El Muneco will be joining a long line of successful Argentine coaches to chose Mexico before Europe.
The next option would be American Jesse Marsch. Marsch is starting to make a name for himself in the Austrian Soccer League, and his offensive and gegenpressing would be spectacular to see in Liga MX. His stats are impressive, having a record of 30 wins, 10 draws, and only six losses, outscoring the opposition 152-55. A move to Liga MX may be the next step for him in reaching the top four leagues in Europe or a National Team.
The more realistic option would be Raul Gutierrez. El Potro had successful stints with Mexico’s U-17 and U-20 teams winning the U-17 World Cup and reaching the final of the U20 World Cup. Gutierrez has proved he can work well with youngsters and Atlas has plenty. With the new Liga MX format of no relegation, El Potro will have time to implement his style without the added pressure.
Back to Basics: Youth
Atlas has one of the best cantera’s in Liga MX and after a few stalled years, has restarted its production of players. La Academia has produced the likes of Rafa Marquez, Andres Guardado, Jared Borgetti, and Jorge Torres Nilo. Atlas has done very well in the U-15, U-17, and U-20 tournaments but players have been lost in the shuffle without making it to the first team. Youth is in Los Zorros’ DNA and their most successful tournaments have been when young players are front and center with experienced players mixed in. Again, with the new format in Liga MX, now is the perfect time to start calling up U-23 players and even younger to see what they can bring to the first team.
There you have it, with these three changes Atlas can be fighting for the top spots in the league within a year, and maybe even bring the elusive title to La Fiel.
