GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Bob Bradley won’t become the first American to coach a Mexican club after all — at least not yet.
According to various reports out of Mexico on Thursday, Santos Laguna have bypassed the former US national team manager for their coaching vacancy, instead offering the job to former boss and Mexican coaching veteran Benjamín Galindo.
The 50-year-old Galindo had a short seven-game stint at the Torreón-based club back in 2006 but failed to win a single game. According to mediotiempo.com, however, Santos decided he was their "best option to get the team back to winning ways and achieve its objectives."
Santos Laguna have yet to comment on the reports. On Wednesday, club president Alejandro Irarragorri told reporters that Bradley was still an option, but that the club would take its time in replacing recently fired Diego Cocca and interview more prospective head coaches in order to not rush the decision.
Bradley shocked Mexican soccer when he turned up at the airport in the violence-plagued city of Torreón on Sunday night and was taken off to the Santos team hotel.
On Monday, the 2010 World Cup coach toured the club’s facilities, met the backroom staff and impressed Irarragorri.
“Without any doubt, he has the profile that we are looking for,” Irarragorri said on Tuesday. “It has been a pleasant surprise to get to know his ideas about soccer and how he works up close.”
It seemed as if a deal was likely, but Bradley left Torreón on Tuesday morning without an outcome one way or the other. The 1998 MLS Coach of the Year is still the top choice for the vacant Egyptian national-team job, MLSsoccer.com learned on Thursday, and the Egyptian FA is hoping for his decision by next week.
Tom Marshall can be reached at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com or via Twitter: @mexicoworldcup
