Diego Cocca takes over Mexico after stepping down as Tigres boss

Diego Cocca took over as head coach of Mexico's men's national team after cutting ties with Liga MX's Tigres just five matches into his reign.

The 50-year-old will succeed another Argentine, Gerardo "Tata" Martino, at El Tri's helm. Martino vacated the post when his contract expired following Mexico's group-stage elimination at the 2022 World Cup.

"It was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up," Cocca told reporters upon being unveiled as Mexico's manager. "This country opened its doors to me as a player, made me grow as a person, and welcomed me back as a coach. I'm very grateful."

Cocca coached in Argentina and Colombia before winning back-to-back Mexican titles with Atlas in the 2021 Apertura and 2022 Clausura. He beat Pachuca's Guillermo Almada to the national team job, according to ESPN's Cesar Hernandez, and is now on course to lead El Tri at the 2026 World Cup, where Mexico shares hosting duties with the United States and Canada.

"We're convinced that it was a good decision and that we're going to triumph with Diego at the helm," said Rodrigo Ares de Parga, an executive director at the Mexican Football Federation. "He's a hard worker and a great strategist."