The 'stache is back.
Tigres manager Ricardo "Tuca' Ferretti has accepted the Mexico national team job on an interim basis for the third time, the Mexican federation announced Monday. Ferretti will coach Mexico in the September window with matches Sept. 7 against Uruguay and Sept. 11 against the United States, but it is unclear if he will coach the national team beyond that.
"The Mexican Football Federation is happy to inform that it has arrived at an agreement with coach Ricardo Ferretti and Club Tigres for him to manage the Mexican national team as an interim in the games El Tricolor will take part in during the next FIFA dates," a statement read.
Mexico also is set to take part in matches during the October and November windows, but opponents and sites for those matches are yet to be announced. Ferretti has been with Tigres since 2010, winning four league titles along the way. He also is the favorite to succeed departed El Tri manager Juan Carlos Osorio for many Liga MX owners; however, Ferretti has been firm in saying that he would not take the job long-term.
The last time the former midfielder took over the Mexico national team also came during a moment of transition. Miguel Herrera was fired after the 2015 Gold Cup for a physical altercation with a broadcaster. Ferretti stepped in and led Mexico to a 3-2 victory over the United States in the CONCACAF Cup, a win that booked El Tri's spot in the 2017 Confederations Cup. Ferretti also oversaw a win over Panama later in that window. Mexico drew with Trinidad and Tobago and Argentina as well under Ferretti, before Osorio took over in the November 2015 qualifiers.
Things have a different feel this time around. The Mexican federation is expected to use this interim stint as a chance to convince Ferretti to take the job on full-time and while the coach's refusals continue, he has also hinted that he might be more open to the job than at previous points in his career.
Ferretti has, however, expressed his desire to retire in 2020 when his current contract with Tigres expires.
