Juan Carlos Osorio, one of the most exciting managers in the FIFA world cup, has stepped down from the hot seat after having refused to renew his contract. At 52, the former Mexican manager still has a potentially rich career ahead of him.
Osorio achieved headlines for his tactics in outmanoeuvring German coach Joachim Low in the recently concluded World Cup. After the 1-0 result against Germany, Osario explained that he had been planning for the match for the past six months. Setting injuries aside, he was sure his wingers, Hirving Lorenzo and Miguel Layun, would torment Germany's midfield and defence.
Figuring out how to beat the then-world number 1 team in the World Cup takes not only intelligence but a determination to look beyond punditry and the odds. What added to Osorio's pressure was the perpetual dissent from fans. It was most noticeable in a pre-friendly win over Scotland where many Mexicans sought his dismissal.
The Colombian seemed hamstrung from the start of his stint due to his nationality. A 7-0 loss to Chile at the Copa America in 2016 had barely helped either. But in the end, Osario left on his own volition with 33 wins from 52 matches - the joint best record from a Mexican coach.
Osorio is reportedly eyeing the Columbian managerial position should Jose Pekerman leave. He is also being mooted as a possible candidate for the USA job. Before the World Cup, Osorio claimed he had been approached by several clubs.
Osario had studied at Liverpool for a diploma in Science and Football at John Moores University. During his time in England, he wanted to be an observer of the training practices of Liverpool and Everton. So Osario improvised by renting a room that overlooked Melwood. He would either use a step ladder or the window to spot the footballing philosophy on display that he was unfamiliar with.
He claimed to have profited from this exercise. He was also a frequent visitor to Manchester United's Carrington practices and he would get managerial advice from Sir Alex Ferguson. One believes that Mexico's untimely exit after such a bright start will only spur him on to better performances, whether it is at club-level or for a country.
