Hugo fired from job

No, the “Hugo” in question is not Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez but instead it’s Hugo Sanchez. The man who was arguably Mexico’s greatest futbolista was fired as head coach of the Mexican men’s soccer team. “El Tri’s” highest point under Sanchez was getting a third-place finish in last year’s Copa America. However a series of disappointing results led to Sanchez’ undoing including not winning against arch-rivals the U.S. and failing to qualify to the Olympics.

With 2010 World Cup qualifying matches coming soon, the Mexican federation committee felt that Sanchez needed to go ASAP:

Sanchez’s failure to do more with the talent he had, and his inability to best arch rival the United States, led to his dismissal.

“We want leaders; we cannot accept another failure, another Olympic failure,” said Justino Compeán, the Mexican federation president. “If that was difficult, could you imagine if Mexico didn’t make it to South Africa?”

Somewhere out there Ricardo LaVolpe is laughing himself silly.

Sources- Reuters UK, The Latin Americanist, SI.com, Goal

Image- New York Times