Mexico legend Andrés Guardado has been named as an assistant to new national team head coach Rafael Márquez.
The Mexican Football Federation FMF announced Marquez’s full coaching staff on Friday, with Guardado joined by Juan Manuel Lillo and Vidal Paloma as assistant coaches. Xabier Mancisidor was named the team’s goalkeeping coach, with Pol Lorente taking the role of athletic trainer.
Márquez was previously confirmed as successor to Javier Aguirre leading up to the 2030 World Cup. The new staff will take charge for the first time during the September-October international window.
“Following a 2026 World Cup that exceeded expectations and forged a strong bond between the team and the fans, the Mexican National Team has announced the coaching staff assembled and led by Rafael Márquez for his tenure at the helm,” the FMF said a news release.
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“Collectively, the coaching staff brings together international experience, specialized expertise, and continuity, spanning diverse generations, coaching philosophies, and working methods, as well as experience in elite competitions such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League, Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Serie A, and the Eredivisie, alongside national team experience.”
Guardado holds the record for most appearances in the history of the Mexican national team at 182 matches, and formed part of five different World Cup rosters.
He and Márquez were part of the rosters for the 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 World Cups and played together in 10 matches.
Guardado now returns to Mexico after serving as the head coach of Real Betis’ under-19 squad.
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Lillo also boasts an extensive resume after managing teams in Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Japan, China and Qatar. He most notably served as an assistant under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, where the team won multiple titles, including the Premier League, the League Cup and the Community Shield.
Lorente, the team’s athletic trainer, returns to the team after serving the same position under Javier Aguirre’s coaching staff.
Márquez and his new coaching staff will kick off on Sept. 26 in an international friendly against Colombia, before taking on Peru, the United States and Chile during the FIFA window.
