Costa Rican journalists urge the newly appointed coach to maintain his offensive flair for the national team
Miguel 'Piojo' Herrera, the acclaimed Mexican football manager, has been announced as the new head coach of
Costa Rica’s national football team.
The Costa Rican Football Federation (Fedefutbol) confirmed his appointment this Tuesday following a selection process involving four final candidates.
Herrera stood out, particularly for aligning with the federation’s economic expectations.
Costa Rican sports journalists have expressed general satisfaction with Herrera's appointment, yet they have collectively made a special request: to uphold his renowned offensive style.
Notably, media figures such as Hernán Morales and Rodolfo Mora from Repretel, along with Daniel Jiménez from Teletica.com, have emphasized their hope that Herrera will instill an attacking philosophy in the national squad.
"I appreciate this approach.
Costa Rica faces a year filled with encounters against teams we need to challenge, dominate, and control.
Embracing this strategy is wise as we have little to fear from our Caribbean and Central American rivals," stated Mora, illustrating the prevailing sentiment.
Jiménez, writing for Teletica’s online platform, expressed a similar hope but cautioned about the importance of aligning coaching strategies with player capabilities.
"While his style is offensive, it’s crucial to see whether he finds players matching this profile.
His teams are driven to attack, driven by demands from previous clubs.
I hope he carries this to the national team, but it’s not only about Herrera; it's also about the players and their adaptability to his system," he explained.
Adding to the conversation, Hernán Morales noted the defensive improvements
Costa Rica achieved under previous managers.
He posited that enhancing offensive strategies under Herrera could bring the team closer to an essential balance.
"I hope within his coaching style, he finds players who can resolve our offensive challenges.
It’s not just about player quality; we’ve lacked the incisiveness and struggle to find a reliable number nine," Morales remarked.
Miguel 'Piojo' Herrera's track record includes managing Mexico's national team during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, reaching the round of 16 with a noteworthy victory over Croatia and a draw against hosts Brazil.
In 2015, he led Mexico to a Gold Cup victory.
At the club level, Herrera has managed prestigious teams such as Club América, Monterrey, and Tigres UANL, securing Mexican championships with Club América in 2013 and 2018, and leading Monterrey to two finals.
As Herrera steps into this new role, the emphasis remains on how he will align his offensive tactics with the national team’s players, shaping the future of Costa Rican football under his leadership.