Mexico's Gold Cup winner Jaime Lozano to remain soccer team's permanent coach

Jaime 'Jimmy' Lozano will remain as Mexico's interim skipper after helping the team win the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Mexico won the Gold Cup earlier this month by beating Panama in the final game, and Lozano's connections with the players were cited as one of the reasons the team kept him after extending the job.

Lozano had previously managed some of the same players on Mexico's bronze-medal-winning Olympic team in Tokyo 2020.

After former coach Diego Cocca was sacked right before the Gold Cup, Lozano was named interim coach and given a temporary contract to just lead the team through the tournament.

“I am very pleased to inform you officially, and I know it is not going to be a surprise for most of you that we have chosen Jaime Lozano to lead the senior national team project ahead of the 2026 World Cup," Ivar Sisniega, FMF president, said in a statement earlier this month.

Current Mexican players supported Lozano's appointment to the permanent position for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

“It would be a dream to lead my national team in a World Cup, and even more in a World Cup where we'll be the home side,” the coach said right after winning the Gold Cup.

In recent years, the Mexican national soccer team has sought foreign managers, including Juan Carlos Osorio (2015-18), Gerardo "Tata" Martino (2019-22) and Cocca (2023). Lozano will be the first El Tri coach born in Mexico since Miguel "Piojo" Herrera (2013-15).

A former Liga MX manager, the coach also managed Queretaro and Necaxa. In 1998, "Jimmy" made his professional debut with PumasUNAM. He has also played for Celaya, Tigres, Cruz Azul, and Morelia.

During the course of 12 years, the 44-year-old coach has represented the Mexican national team 34 times and scored 12 goals.