Javier Aguirre

Javier Aguirre Onaindía (Spanish pronunciation: [xaˈβjeɾ aˈɣire]; born 1 December 1958), nicknamed “El Vasco” (lit. 'The Basque'), is a Mexican football manager and former footballer, who is the current head coach of La Liga club Valencia.

As a player, he is best remembered for his time at Club América, where he made his debut and won a Primera División championship, and later at Guadalajara, where he played for six seasons before retiring. On the international stage, he earned 59 caps and represented Mexico at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.

Upon retiring, Aguirre transitioned into management and quickly established a reputation as a tactically flexible and resilient coach. After leading Pachuca to prominence, he took charge of the Mexico national team, guiding them in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, a feat he would repeat at the 2010 and 2026 editions as well.

His managerial career extended well beyond Mexico. He went on to manage eight different clubs in La Liga, including Atlético Madrid, where he consistently achieved top-table finishes and secured regular European qualification. He also guided both Osasuna and Mallorca to Copa del Rey finals. At the international level, he served as head coach of the national teams of Japan and Egypt.