Photo: Javier Soriano / AFP / Getty Images
By: EFE
Thursday, September 19
Efraín Juárez and Paco Jémez: candidates to coach the Chicago Fire of the MLS
Following the dismissal of Swiss Raphael Wicky as Chicago Fire coach, the MLS team manages a list of around seven candidates to take over the bench, among which are the Mexican Efraín Juárez , currently assistant coach of New York City, and the Spanish Paco Jémez .
The franchise, no longer options to get into the ‘playoffs’ by occupying the twelfth position of the Eastern Conference, nine points from the positions that give access To the qualifying rounds for the title with two days to play, look for a technician with experience as a footballer to know how to handle the locker room and who speaks Spanish, since twelve of his footballers were born or have Spanish-speaking roots.
As EFE learned, both Jémez and Efraín Juárez have been valued in a process in which the in interviews by the managers to choose the new team technician.
The Spanish, who trained Cruz Azul in 2017, has been without equipment since 31 July 2020, when he finished his second stage at Rayo Vallecano.
• Paco Jemez
(Sem clube)
• 51 years / Birth: 🇪🇸
• Preferred formation: 4-3-3
• Secondary training: 4-2-3-1 / 4-4-2 / 3-4-3 / 4-1-4-1 / 3-4-1-2
• 435 games:
141 Vit / 126 Emp / 168 Der pic.twitter.com/DUgCTR6DnR
– Hidden Talents (@ Hidden Talents4) October 10, 2021
For his part, the xicano began his career on the bench after retiring as a footballer in March of 2020. Since then he has served as assistant coach to Norwegian Ronny Deila at New York City. EFE spoke with Juarez about the possibility of being the first coach, which he considers his “dream”, and confirmed contacts with various teams so that he could become aware of this possibility.
“ There was contact with some MLS clubs and also with some from Mexico, who are always interested in my progression. I am happy in New York City, learning a lot in one of the best organizations in the world; both on a football level and on a personal level. I am really having a very happy time in my career. Quite happy because there have been approaches from other clubs very interested in my progress as assistant coach ”, he told EFE.
“ The reality is that I am in a privileged place like New York City, I want to emphasize this. I understand my position and I am always contributing from my work for the club to help the team and the coach, who more than my boss is my friend and mentor because I have learned a lot from all his experience ”, he concluded.