SOLARI OUT, WHO CAN BRING AMERICA BACK FROM THE PRECIPICE
The Santiago Solari era has come to an abrupt end, just two and a half seasons after it started. Solari leaves after reaching two quarterfinals and a Super Liderato last season. Unfortunately for him, the wind was knocked out of his sails this tournament and his squad is near the bottom of the table.
So who will take Solari’s place? Well the Liga MX coaching carousel has already begun and the names of LaVolpe, Carrillo, Alfredo Tena, have all been linked to the position already. To avoid that, here are my five non-carousel picks to take the helm of America.
Hernan Crespo
Crespo has been linked to the America job already and may fit the bill as a big name that America can give their fans. On the field Crespo may be a good fit for America, his preferred formation (3-4-1-2) will play well to the squad’s current strengths. Hernan struggled as a coach for Banfield but found his footing in his time at Defensa in Argentina where he won the Copa Sudamericana averaged 1.53 PPM. (Points per Match). With his latest squad, São Paulo in Brazil, he averaged 1.63 PPM ahead of his high-scoring squad.
Abel Ferreira
But if winning coaches from Brazil are what you’re looking for then look no further than Ferreira. The Portuguese manager has won back-to-back Copa Libertadores titles and a Copa de Brazil since his arrival in November 2020. He lines up his squads in a 4-2-3-1 similar to Solari’s at the beginning of his tenure. His teams play an offensive-minded style of futbol that produces about 1.66 goals a game and is very effective.
Juan Carlos Osorio
Yup, you knew you’d see his name sooner or later. Osorio may be a valid option for America. His time in his homeland of Columbia has been tumultuous, to say the least, but his results have still been good. He averaged 1.66 PPM in his return to Atletico National and is currently averaging 1.21 PPM with CD America. The challenge of taking Las Aguilas back to the top of Liga MX may be just the challenge he needs to get back in Mexican fans’ good graces.
Marcelo Gallardo
El Muneco seemed to be the world’s IT boy at the end of the 18/19 season. His River Plate squad won the Argentine Cup and the Re-Copa Sudamericana a year after beating Boca for the Copa Libertadores title. He was being linked to every vacant and soon-to-be-vacant spot in Europe. Since then, the rumors have cooled on him and a move to Liga MX may jump-start a frenzy once again. His attacking 4-3-3 formation may make America an offensive juggernaut and shoot the back atop the league.
Raul Gutierrez
I wanted to add a Mexican option for Los Azul-Cremas, and it was difficult, to say the least. Again, aside from the familiar faces, new options were little to none. I went with Gutierrez simply because of his ability to work with Mexican youth. Back in 2011, he won the U-17 World Cup in thrilling fashion. Since then he has struggled to find his place and struggled ahead of his last squad, Real Espana in Honduras. Gutierrez, however, knows Mexican soccer, and his 4-4-2 diamond formation may wreak havoc in Liga MX with America’s current crop of players.
If rumors are to be believed, America may hire an interim manager until the end of the season, while trying to convince Puebla’s Nicolas Larcamon to take over. With a hefty contract offer, they may be able to pry him away from Los Camoteros.
Who do you think should be America’s next Manager?
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