Manager Miguel 'Piojo' Herrera and Club Tijuana have mutually agreed to part ways, as announced by the Liga MX side. Herrera's second stint with Tijuana, which began in February 2023, did not yield the same success as his initial tenure from 2015 to 2017. During his first stint, Herrera led Xolos to top finishes in the 2016 Apertura and 2017 Clausura regular seasons. However, in the recent seasons under his charge, Tijuana failed to qualify for the Liga MX playoffs.
In the 2024 Clausura tournament, Tijuana finished 16th in the standings and landed at the bottom of the 2023-24 coefficient table, resulting in an 80 million pesos fine for the club. Herrera described this season as the 'worst' in his managerial career.
Now a free agent, Herrera has expressed interest in potential opportunities in both Mexico and the United States. While acknowledging the challenges of coaching changes in Liga MX, he highlighted the appeal of Major League Soccer (MLS) for Mexican and foreign coaches, citing the league's growth and potential.
San Diego FC, an upcoming MLS expansion team set to debut in 2025, is currently in search of their first technical director and manager. The club's CEO indicated that announcements regarding these positions could be expected in the second quarter of the year.
Reports have emerged linking San Diego FC with Mexican internationals Guillermo Ochoa and Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano. Herrera, who coached Ochoa during the 2014 World Cup and included Lozano in his preliminary roster for the 2015 Gold Cup during his time as Mexico manager, could potentially reunite with the players at the MLS franchise.
