Tijuana Xolos: Club Tijuana Officially Announce New Manager Diego Cocca
This Thursday, the Tijuana Xolos announced Diego Cocca as the new manager that will take over the vacant spot left by Eduardo Coudet.
The move isn’t a dramatic change from Eduardo Coudet as Cocca is Argentine, around the same age as Coudet, and represented by the infamous Argentine agent Christian Bragarnik that also represents “Chacho” and several players on Club Tijuana.
Cocca had an extensive playing career as a fullback, playing professionally from 1990-2006.
The South American defender did have stints in Mexico, playing with Atlas from 1999-2001, with Veracruz from 2003-2004, and with Queretaro in 2005. Shortly after his playing career ended, Cocca started his managerial career in 2007 with Comisión de Actividades Infantiles in his native Argentina. The Argentine boss stayed in Argentina and managed Godoy Cruz and Gimnasia La Plata before making a move to Mexico with Santos Laguna in 2011. Cocca replaced ex-Xolos’ manager Ruben Omar Romano at Santos Laguna in week 8 of the Liga MX Clausura 2011.
The former River Plate defender was not successful with Los Guerreros as he lost four consecutive Liga MX games before getting his first win. The new Xolos’ manager closed out the season only losing one game, but it was a little too late as Santos Laguna finished ninth, just out of a playoff spot.
Cocca kept his job in the Apertura 2011, but was relieved of his duties after just six games. The Argentine started the season with two wins, but then did not win in four consecutive games. Consequently, he was fired.
Diego Cocca @xolos_en head coach. #WelcomeToTijuana #GoXolos #ligamxeng pic.twitter.com/2ZCHRVojSC
— @Xolos_En (@xolos_en) December 7, 2017
After his unsuccessful stint in Mexico, Cocca maintained jobs in South America, mostly in his native Argentina and in Colombia as well.
The Christian Bragarnik client managed Huracan, Defensa y Justicia, and Racing Club in Argentina and Millonarios in Colombia. His most successful stint was with Racing Club from 2014 to 2015 as he made the team from Avellaneda champions in 2014. Some players linked to Xolos, like ex-striker Gabriel Huache and current striker Gustavo Bou, formed part of that Racing Club team. Cocca will be reunited with Gustavo Bou, and this could easily prove to be one of the benefits of this managerial change as Bou was very successful under the leadership of Diego Cocca.
The 45-year-old was the current manager of Racing Club as he returned to Avellaneda after his stint with Millonarios in Colombia. Some current players on Racing Club are likely to make the move to the border city and some are already being rumored, like midfielder Egidio Arevalo Rios.
The move wasn’t the most exciting as Cocca shares a lot of the same traits as Eduardo Coudet, but this will now be another rebuilding process after a failed one in the Apertura 2017.
Francisco, 26, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego Loyal, San Diego Wave.