Raul Arias

I just suffered through a very tedious one-nil Club Deportivo Guadalajara victory over Jaguares de Chipas with the loan satisfaction that Francisco Ramirez is no longer at the helm of my beloved Chivas. That task is now at the hands of Raul Arias who was chosen over candidates like Fernando "Sheriff" Quirarte and Ignacio Ambriz. Despite the win Chivas was booed off the field by their faithful followers.

My judgment is still out on Arias. The one positive note he has is that he is the second coach, since Vergara has been in charge, that has experience. The first coach was Xavier Azkargota, best remembered for coaching Bolivia in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, who had been inactive for over ten years. The rest of the Chivas coaches, under Vergara's reign, have all gotten their start at the storied club.

As for Arias well he was assistant of Manuel Lapuente at Necaxa which he later coached for a good ten years before taking over San Luis. Arias returned to Necaxa to try and save them from relegation but was unsuccessful. Now he is at Chivas which, while not fighting to avoid the drop, are in danger of missing the league playoffs for a third consecutive tourney.

The irony in all of this is that for many years Arias was viewed as Lapuente's successor to take over club America but instead he was sent to little brothers San Luis. It is believed that Arias came to Chivas under the recommendation of Emilio Azkaraga, America's owner, and brought by Carlos Hurtado one of the most shady and powerful promoters in Mexican football.