Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 6y

Juan Carlos Osorio leaning toward leaving as Mexico coach - sources

Juan Carlos Osorio says he will announce his future with the Mexico national team in the next few days, with all indications suggesting the Colombian will not be extending his contract with El Tri.

Sources close to Osorio told ESPN Deportes that he is leaning toward leaving Mexico amid multiple offers from other national teams. There are also unconfirmed reports linking him to the United States national team job.

Goal.com reported on Thursday that Osorio has already turned down Mexico's offer to extend his contract extension and decided to move on.

Osorio is in his native Colombia following Mexico's participation in the World Cup, where they finished in 12th place overall, and upon his arrival in Cali, the coach told El Pais that he would like to resolve his future quickly.

"This weekend I must give our bosses in Mexico some kind of definitive response," Osorio said. "As I have always expressed, I have said this over and over, we are eternally grateful to the Mexico federation for the opportunity that was given.

"It is no secret that my coaching the national team was a dream. Later we put together a process and it became a professional objective. 

"But just like any other Colombian coach, the possibility that I may be able to coach such a great [national] team as our own is inevitable.

"And because of the enormous love I have for my country, the only smart thing to do is to let Mexico know our decision between today and tomorrow. After that, it will be the decision of other people."

Mexico gave Osorio a 10-day period to reflect on the new contract offer following a meeting on July 11, a source told ESPN.

As well as declaring interest in the Colombia national team job in case Jose Pekerman doesn't extend his contract beyond August, Osorio has been linked to Egypt and South Korea as well as the vacant U.S. job, a position that would also likely interest the former New York Red Bulls manager.

Osorio's Mexico won praise for its victory against Germany in the group stage of the World Cup and the manager was satisfied with the team's performance overall, despite El Tri going out of the tournament at the round of 16 stage for the seventh consecutive occasion.

"The World Cup gave us much to consider," Osorio added. "One should play for the love of winning and not for the fear of losing.

"That's the decision of the leader, of the person who directs and I believe the Mexican national team showed that capacity of going toe-to-toe.

"To have beaten Germany in the first game was extraordinary; to have gone face-to-face with Brazil, another world power, I think is very praiseworthy."

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