Warning to Mexican national team coaches: Losing to and even playing against the United States can be dangerous for your health and your tenure as coach.
So, it should not be surprising that Mexico's latest coach, Swedish native Sven-Goran Eriksson, finds himself sitting on the hot seat in more ways that one entering Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against the U.S. at Crew Stadium (ESPN2, 7 p.m. ET).
The Mexican media traditionally comes down hard on the team and whichever poor soul has to endure the pressure of coaching a team that has to lose to someone, sooner or later. It has been difficult for Mexicans -- players and citizens -- to come to grips with the fact that the U.S. and the rest of CONCACAF has caught up or is catching up to them.
Several of Eriksson's predecessors met their demise after losing to the U.S., a fourth after playing against the red, white and blue.
A quick history:
Manuel Lapuente (1991): Only two days after losing to the U.S. 2-0 in the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals in Los Angeles, Lapuente was given his walking papers. Lapuente came back for more and guided the team from 1997-99.
Miguel Mejia Baron (1995): After coaching Mexico to and in the 1994 World Cup, it all went to pieces in 1995. His Mexican team was demolished by the U.S. 4-0 in a U.S. Cup encounter in Washington, D.C. in June and was eliminated by the pesky USA in Copa America in Uruguay on July 17 via penalty kicks after a scoreless draw in Uruguay. Baron, incidentally, was a qualified dentist.
Bora Milutinovic (1997): Baron's replacement turned out to be the old international traveling man, Milutinovic (who directed the MetroStars in their dismal 1999 season). Bora guided the Mexicans into the World Cup, but was axed only three weeks after securing a berth at France '98. Bora, who had been under fire for more than a year, got the axe on Nov. 25, 1997, only three weeks after unbeaten Mexico (4-0-6) qualified. But Milutinovic had unwittingly was caught up in a political battle between rival television networks -- Televisa, which supported him, and upstart Azteca, which wanted him out. Azteca, and many fans thought that Mexico had underachieved in its final four qualifiers, tying each one.
"We never had a problem with the coach," said Mexican captain Marcellino Bernal, who added that Milutinovic was axed "because we didn't get favorable results, especially in the five home games. We didn't win ... we didn't play convincing soccer." He was replaced by Lapuente (see above for his fate). Lapuente coached that team at France '98 and guided the Mexicans to the FIFA Confederations Cup title a year later.
Enrique Meza (2001): Enrique Meza Enriquez wasn't fired immediately after the USA's stunning 2-0 qualifying victory, but it began a tail-spin that left the Mexicans' World Cup aspirations in a shambles during the CONCACAF final round for Korea/Japan 2002. He was bounced in June 2001 and replaced by former Los Angeles Aztecs midfielder Javier Aguirre, who guided Mexico into the World Cup. Meza, incidentally, directed Pachuca to its first SuperLiga title in 2007, when it defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Hugo Sanchez (2008): The former Real Madrid and Mexican international scoring star guided the Tricolores for 16 months before he was axed on March 31, 2008. Less than two months prior, Sanchez's side had tied the U.S. in an international friendly in Houston on Feb. 6, 2-2. It wasn't the U.S. match that did Sanchez in. The full national side went on to tie Australia and Finland, not exactly world powers, and tied Ecuador's under-23 national team in Queretaro, Mexico. Under Sanchez's stewardship, the U-23 teams failed to qualify for the Olympics, getting eliminated in the opening CONCACAF round. Add his controversial decision to change the color of the home national team jersey from green to white, the Mexican Primera Division club owners voted 16-0 to oust Sanchez on March 31.
Cesar Menotti: While it could not be determined whether he was fired after a U.S. match, Mexico lost Menotti, who directed Argentina to the 1978 World Cup championship, not once, but twice. Menotti quit over political problems in the Mexican Federation. The second time was permanent. Menotti left the team, and Miguel Mejia Baron took over.
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