Javier Aguirre Biography

Mexico City-based Javier Aguirre was born on December 1, 1958.

Family:

Javier Aguirre is the son of Vicente Aguirre and Maite Onaindía. Due to his heritage, he was nicknamed “El Vasco” because his mother came from Guernica while his father hailed from Ispáster, both of which are municipalities of the Basque Country. Subsequent to the bombing of Guernica in 1937, the parents migrated to Latin America.

Education:

América (Club América) groomed him through their youth academy system.

Soccer Player:

As a footballer, Javier Aguirre had a successful career as a midfielder. He started as an accomplished player at Club América during his early days as a professional footballer. Also, he featured for Los Angeles Aztecs and CA Osasuna in Spain earning himself international acclaim. He represented Mexico at the 1986 world cup held in Mexico.

Coach:

After Javier retirement as a player, Aguirre commenced his coaching career. His first biggest task was to manage Club Pachuca in 1999 which led them into their very first league title. In the European continent, Jose Antonio coached teams such as CA Osasuna , Atlético de Madrid , Zaragoza and RCD Espanyol in Spain, Al-Wahda and Al-Rayyan in the Middle East.

By November of this year he had gone back to Spain whereby he signed a contract to be the coach of CD Leganés until the end of the 2019–20 season. Monterrey appointed Javier Aguirre on a two-year deal on December 7th,2020. He was once manager of RCD Mallorca (Spain; Primera División) from 2022-24.

National Teams:

He made his debut as Mexico’s head coach on July 1, 2001. By that time Mexico had already qualified for World Cup by defeating Honduras on November 11, 2001.Throughout these competitions’ finals held in Columbia in July-August-August that year when Mexican team finished second using the same players who later participated in World Cup.It is worth mentioning that at Gold Cup (2002) Aguirre tried out new names but eventually failed to reach semi-finals after losing to South Korea(quarterfinals).

At this tournament held concurrently by two countries — Japan and South Korea —he took Mexicans up to round of sixteen where they were beaten by United States.

In addition he won the “Mexican National Sports Award” (coaching category) during his tenure as team trainer throughout the entire year of 2005.

Second stint as Mexico coach:

On April 3rd ,2009, Mexican Football Federation announced that Javier Aguirre will oversee the national team till’ last day of its presence at FIFA World Cup-2010 and another two-year period. By winning the 2009 Gold Cup (5-0) final against the United States , Mexico were able to claim this honor. In the 2010 World Cup, Mexico reached the round of 16 where they were eliminated by Argentina. The Mexican national team was managed by him till’ World Cup’s end.

It was in July when he took positioin as a head coach in Japan. His team would be taken out from AFC Asian quarterfinals in 2015. Nevertheless, after an alleged match fixing between the two La Liga clubs, Levante and Zaragoza, he eventually lost his job though Japan Football Association initially wanted to keep him on.

He became Egypt’s head coach on August 1st of that year. On July 7th,2019 he got fired after losing to South Africa at African cup of nations’ round of sixteen.

Third stint as Mexico coach:

On July 22nd ,2024 FMF announced Aguirre’s third national coaching cycle and introduction of Rafael Márquez as his assistant ahead of the FIFA World Cup scheduled for six years hence.

Private Life: 

Silvia Carrión is his wife and together they have three children who are Ander, Mikel and Iñaki.

SUMMARY:

He is a footballer as well as a mentor from Mexico known as “El Vasco”. As a football player, he started his career in the midfield for clubs like Club América and CA Osasuna. With an extensive coaching career, he managed teams in both Mexico and overseas, as well as the Mexican national team twice in the World Cup. On July 22nd in 2024, the Mexican Football Federation declared the beginning of his third tenure as Mexico’s national coach.

DID YOU KNOW?

He coached two different nations’ teams in World Cups that were held during separate decades (2002 and 2010).

Achievements :

As a player
1st Division - Club América - Mexico - 1983/84

As a coach

National championships
Primera División - Pachuca - Mexico - 1999
League Cup - Al-Wahda FC - United Arab Emirates - 2016
President's Cup - Al-Wahda FC - United Arab Emirates - 2016
President's Cup - Al-Wahda FC - United Arab Emirates - 2017

International championships
CONCACAF Gold Cup - Mexico national team - United States - 2009
Concacaf Champions League - CF Monterrey - Mexico - 2021