Manager Miguel “Piojo” Herrera and Club Tijuana have parted ways, the Liga MX side announced on Wednesday.
A press release from Club Tijuana said the decision was “by mutual agreement.”
The former Mexico men’s team manager struggled in his second stint with Tijuana, which began in February of 2023. Herrera was unable to recreate the same magic from his first stint (2015-17) that saw Xolos finish at the top of the table in the 2016 Apertura and 2017 Clausura regular seasons.
Tijuana failed to qualify for the Liga MX playoffs during the three most recent seasons in which Herrera was in charge.
In the latest 2024 Clausura tournament, Tijuana not only finished 16th in the standings, but also dead last in the 2023-24 coefficient table, thereby handing the border town team an 80 million pesos fine.
After closing out the Clausura with a 2W-8D-7L record, Herrera stated that it was the “worst season” he has had as a manager.
Now without a job, Herrera hasn’t closed the doors on any other opportunities within Mexico or the United States.
“In Liga MX there are really interesting teams that I would like, but it’s difficult for them to change coaches [at the moment]. Of course, MLS is a great attraction for any Mexican or foreign coach,” said Herrera this week to TUDN. “Any MLS team would be extraordinary, it’s a league that’s growing, suddenly people in Mexico are saying that MLS is already surpassing Liga MX.”
Just a short drive north of the border from Tijuana, where many Xolos fans reside, MLS expansion franchise San Diego FC is currently on the hunt for their first-ever technical director and manager ahead of their 2025 debut. Earlier in February.
San Diego FC CEO Tom Penn told ESPN: “I’d say likely sometime in Q2, you would hear more” about the possible hiring of either position.
In recent days, there have also been reports regarding interest from San Diego FC for Mexico internationals Guillermo Ochoa and Hirving “Chucky” Lozano. During his time as Mexico manager (2013-15), Herrera coached Ochoa at the 2014 World Cup and included Lozano in his preliminary roster for the 2015 Gold Cup.