In a widely expected move, the Mexican Soccer Federation (FMF) has confirmed that legendary former national team captain Rafael Márquez will become the next head coach following Mexico’s participation in the upcoming World Cup.

Duilio Davino, the national team’s general manager, told Fox Sports on Monday that Márquez has signed a contract and is already assembling a coaching staff with the mission of qualifying for the 2030 World Cup.

“Today, as an assistant and as a coach, he’s just like he was as a player,” Davino said. “He transforms the locker room and inspires the team.”

Márquez, known during his playing days as “The Kaiser of Michoacán,” is currently the top assistant on the national team coaching staff and has been sitting beside Javier Aguirre since the latter took the reins of El Tri in July 2024.

Aguirre and Márquez guided Mexico to two titles last year — the Concacaf Nations League and the Concacaf Gold Cup. 

Aguirre has described Márquez’s presence on the coaching staff as “significant,” calling his preparation both on and off the field “remarkable.” 

“His leadership is based on conviction and his contributions have strengthened the team’s defensive performance,” Aguirre said.

Since retiring in 2018, Rafa has served as general manager for Liga MX club Atlas (his boyhood team with whom he debuted in 1996 at 17 years of age), before spending four years coaching in Spain’s second division.

Davino said Rafa has already recruited about 80% of his staff, and is set on hiring Andrés Guardado, the player who succeeded him as El Tri skipper, as his top assistant. 

Márquez has selected long-time Toluca netminder Alfredo Talavera to be in charge of Mexico’s goalies. “Tala” appeared in 503 Liga MX games during his 19-year career and earned 43 caps with El Tri. He currently serves as the goalkeepers coach for Mexico’s Under-23 team.

Vidal Paloma, a member of Rafa’s staff at Barça Atletic, has also been hired.

Rafa brings plenty of international experience to the task. Not only did he win four La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies with Barcelona, but he also starred for Mexico at five World Cups (sharing the all-time record with Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Germany’s Lotthar Matthaus and Guardado). 

Márquez also has the fourth-most caps in national team history with 147 appearances, a list topped by Guardado with 180.

Looking ahead to the next World Cup, Mexico will have to survive the regional qualifying tournament to earn its way to Spain-Portugal-Morocco 2030, something it was spared doing for this year’s event by virtue of being host.

With reports from Eje Central, Uno-TV, Juan Futbol and Soy Fut