Guillermo Barros Schelotto just can't seem to stop watching soccer.
The Boca Juniors manager is vacationing in Southern California, and as Mexico faced Wales in the Rose Bowl on Monday as part of El Tri's preparations for the World Cup, he decided to take the match in.
"It just so happened to coincide with my vacation and I wanted to come and see the game with my kids. I like the Mexican national team," he said. "I played against Mexico once in Los Angeles in the Coliseum in ’99 playing with Argentina but I’ve never been able to come see a game. I came to see it and see Osorio’s team."
With such a love for the game, perhaps it's no surprise that while Barros Schelotto was coaching Boca to consecutive Primera Division titles he's also been keeping an eye on MLS matches. The 45-year-old suited up for the Columbus Crew between 2007-2010 and said he's seen an incredible tactical evolution in the league.
"When I played here, everyone played the same. Four defenders, four midfielder and two forwards. At the end, when I left after four years, you started seeing some changes," he said. "Now a lot is changing. You see Toronto playing with three at the back, Kansas City with three forwards, things you didn’t see, different teams using different tactics. That also helps players evolve and teams change."
Those changes, led by a combination of American manager like Greg Vanney, Peter Vermes and Bob Bradley and foreign coaches like Patrick Vieira and Barros Schelotto's countryman Tata Martino, have drawn his eye and while he's pleased to be coaching Boca for the immediate future could lead to him taking a role in MLS down the line.
"Yes, without doubt one day I’d like to manage (here)," he said. "I don’t know when and things in Boca are going really well, I’m really happy and it’s a big challenge, but obviously one day in the future I’d like to manage in MLS."
