Diego Cocca, the Argentine coach lauded in Guadalajara after leading the Atlas team to its first Mexican soccer championship for 70 years in 2019, has had a much bumpier ride since leaving the local club last year.

Cocca, who was hired last February to be the new coach of the Mexican national team, was fired this week after just seven games in charge.  Results had not been good, but the final nail in his coffin came June 15 after a 3-0 loss to the United States in the semi final of the CONCACAF Nations League in front of a sellout crowd of 65,000 fans at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.  The game left a bad taste in the mouth after four players were ejected from the field, and the referee cut the game short after repeated homophobic chants could be heard from Mexican fans. The United States won the final against Canada three days later.

Cocca had been expected to lead the Mexican national team in the CONCACAF Gold Cup beginning on June 24. While disappointed, the Argentine won’t be left out of pocket. He signed a lucrative contract with the Mexican Football Association until 2026, meaning that he stands to make nearly $US6 million for his four-month coaching stint.