The wait time was short.
Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles found a replacement coach after firing Joaquin del Olmo late Sunday night.
The club announced the Argentine-born Antonio Mohamed as the new head coach Monday, less than 24 hours after firing del Olmo.
Mohamed brings experience coaching in Mexican soccer, most of it in the Primera División, the country's top soccer league.
Mohamed coached Morelia, Querétaro, Jaguares, Veracruz and Zacatepec before returning to coach the Argentine team Huracán, of the Second Division B league. He led Huracán to a promotion into the First Division during the 2005-2006 season.
He has also coached Club Atletico Colón de Santa Fe
out of possible relegation and helped the team qualify to the Copa Libertadores, South America's version of the UEFA Champions League, last year.
And he led Club Independiente to a Copa Sudamericana title in 2010.
The Xolos are hoping Mohamed can do the same this season. Tijuana is hanging on a thread in the Primera División as it sits at the bottom of the relegation percentage standings and is the No. 17 team of 18 in the Apertura tournament standings with only six points.
It might be a difficult transition for Mohamed. He must first earn the respect of his new players. Those same players pleaded with team management to retain del Olmo during a team meeting after losing to Estudiantes Tecos of Guadalajara 2-0 Sunday at Estadio Caliente.
Management decided otherwise.
The Xolos have yet to win at home after going 25 games without losing there before this tournament. The last home win came in May, when Tijuana defeated Irapuato in a playoff and clinched a slot in the First Division.
Del Olmos reign is over.
Mohamed is the new man in charge and he will have Gustavo Alberto Lema and Fabián Donelli as assistant coaches. Claudio Kenny will be the team's fitness trainer.
ivan.orozco@sandiegored.com
