The first Gerardo “Tata” Martino Mexico squad has been unveiled, and it’s a doozy. The former Atlanta United, Barcelona and Argentina coach named four uncapped players to a 24-man roster for a camp that will begin Sunday in Mexico City.
The squad is comprised entirely of domestic-based players, similar to USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter’s January camp roster. Among the Liga MX players selected are newcomers Alexis Viga, Juan Pablo Vigon, Carlos Rodriguez and Jorge Sanchez.
Not included was Monterrey midfielder Jonathan González, the American-born 19-year-old who last year switched allegiances from the U.S. to Mexico. González made his El Tri debut soon after his one-time FIFA switch on Jan. 1, 2018, under then-head coach Juan Carlos Osorio, who did not continue with Mexico after the 2018 World Cup.
Incondicionales, the wait is over!!
Here is Head Coach, Gerardo Martino's first team sheet. #PasiónyOrgullo pic.twitter.com/M3mB0ChaXU— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) February 8, 2019
The squad does not include any of Mexico’s European-based players such as Hirving Lozano, Érick Gutiérrez, Memo Ochoa, Héctor Moreno, Andrés Guardado, Héctor Herrera, Raúl Jiménez or Marco Fabián, the latter of whom signed with the Philadelphia Union from Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday.
Interestingly, this El Tri camp will take place in the middle of the Liga MX season, unlike the aforementioned USMNT January camp, which took place during MLS preseason. The camp will run from Sunday to Wednesday, but players with matches on Friday will be allowed to leave on Tuesday. Despite MLS still being in preseason, Martino didn't call in any MLS-based players like Carlos Vela or the dos Santos brothers.
This first Martino Mexico squad is unlikely to be the same group chosen for the new coach’s first matches in charge of El Tri. Mexico faces Chile (March 22) and Paraguay (March 26) during FIFA international dates, meaning Martino will be able to call upon any El Tri players, including those based overseas.
Martino was first introduced as Mexico coach in January and had a news conference in Los Angeles on Thursday. His first meaningful matches in charge of El Tri will come at this summer’s Gold Cup.
Take a look BTS at our event yesterday in LA to introduce our new boss Gerardo Martino to all the Incondicionales in the US!! #PasiónyOrgullo | #WelcomeTata | #MEXTOUR pic.twitter.com/q1wkQPARPt
— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) February 8, 2019
“We always have the goal of finding our identity quickly,” Martino said Thursday. “We have the upcoming friendlies to do that. Then we’ve got the Gold Cup.”
First Gerardo Martino Mexico Squad
Mexico Camp, Feb. 10-13, Mexico City
Goalkeepers
- Jonathan Orozco (Santos Laguna)
- Gibran Lajud (Tijuana)
- Raul Gudino (Chivas)
- Hugo Gonzalez (Necaxa)
Defenders
- Edson Alvarez (America)
- Jorge Sanchez (America)
- Carlos Salcedo (Tigres)
- Luis "Chaka" Rodriguez (Tigres)
- Cesar Montes (Monterrey)
- Hiram Mier (Chivas)
- Jesus Angulo (Santos Laguna)
- Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey)
Midfielders
- Jesus Duenas (Tigres)
- José Juan Vazquez (Santos Laguna)
- Carlos Rodriguez (Monterrey)
- Victor Guzman (Pachuca)
- Orbelin Pineda (Cruz Azul)
- Juan Pablo Vigon (Atlas)
Forwards
- Rodolfo Pizarro (Monterrey)
- Henry Martin (America)
- Isaac Brizuela (Chivas)
- Alexis Vega (Chivas)
- Roberto Alvarado (Cruz Azul)
- Javier Aquino (Tigres)
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